Clubs' dancing can go on at Easter; Council yes to Good Friday agreement.Byline: sarah portlock EASTER Easter [A.S. Eastre, name of a spring goddess], chief Christian feast, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus after his crucifixion. In the West, Easter is celebrated on the Sunday following the full moon next after the vernal equinox (see calendar); thus, it revellers will be able to go dancing in Leamington and Kenilworth after a long-running dispute over nightclub opening was resolved last night. Club owners have previously been banned by Warwick District Council from opening on Good Friday Good Friday, anniversary of Jesus' death on the cross. According to the Gospels, Jesus was put to death on the Friday before Easter Day. Since the early church Good Friday has been observed by fasting and penance. , although venues in nearby Coventry and Stratford are allowed to. But last night, councillors on the licensing committee voted unanimously to let the clubs open on Good Friday from now on. Committee member Bob Butler Bob Butler (born April 4, 1891) was an American football player. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1972. (Ind IND Investigational new drug Therapeutics A status assigned by the FDA to a drug before allowing its use in humans, exempting it from premarketing approval requirements so that experimental clinical trials may be conducted. See Phase 1.2, 3 studies, Sponsorship. , Budbrooke) said the right decision had been made. "We are now in the 21st century and, while we have respect for the past, it is time to move forward. Good Friday is a holiday for most people and they should have the chance to decide if they go out or not," he said. "Beforehand if people wanted to go to a club they had to pay high taxi fares to Coventry or Birmingham." At an earlier meeting of the full council members had objected to the opening on religious grounds. But licensing chairman Dave Shilton (Lib Dem LIB DEM Liberal Democrat(s) (UK political party) , Kenilworth Park Hill) said the committee had received no objections from the churches. "I think if they felt strongly on the matter we would have heard something by now," he said. He added: "Times have changed and if we did not allow them to open I don't think we would have a good case to defend ourselves with in court." Peter Ogden-Jones, manager of Club Mirage, in Spencer Street, had threatened to take the matter to court if he was banned from opening. Some councillors though were disappointed at the decision. Cllr Michael Coker (Cons, Kenilworth Abbey abbey, monastic house, especially among Benedictines and Cistercians, consisting of not less than 12 monks or nuns ruled by an abbot or abbess. Many abbeys were originally self-supporting. In the Benedictine expansion after the 8th cent. ) said: "I think there are very few special days left. I think Christmas Day and Good Friday are special days and should be left as such." |
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