A BAR owner is hoping to open a pole dancing club in Bolton town centre -- the second controversial club now being considered by council chiefs.

Barry Grundy, who runs The Office in Manor Street, has applied for permission from Bolton Planning Department to open the pole dancing club on the ground floor of the venue.

Both men and women entertainers will be wearing sexy outfits and dancing around two poles, but bar owner Mr Grundy said none of his dancers will be removing their clothing.

A plan to open a lap dancing club -- where dancers perform for individual customers -- at another town centre is also due to go before council licensing chiefs for consideration in the near future.

The plans for sex dancing clubs in Bolton town centre have been condemned by the Vicar of Bolton, Canon Michael Williams, who believes they will offend many people.

But the latest club owner to submit an application for a risque dancing club Mr Grundy said that if his plan is approved, the lap dancing at The Office will not be sleazy and everything will be run in a "tasteful" way with the performers chaperoned by security staff at all times.

Mr Grundy claims the idea for a pole dancing club came from customers who suggested it would bring in more business earlier in the evening.

He said: "There is lots of competition for bars and clubs in Bolton and we need to do something different to bring in customers.

"The police are fine with us doing this and we don't really need to seek permission as nobody will be taking their clothes off."

He added: "We're just making it official to stop us receiving any complaints once it's started. Years ago this sort of thing used to be called go-go dancing, but it's not sleazy like lap dancing."

Mr Grundy's plans will be discussed tomorrow at Bolton Council's Licensing and Environmental Regulation Committee.

Councillors will be asked to decide on three recommendations to allow pole dancing, or to grant permission providing the dancers are not nude or topless, or to reject the plan.

As previously reported in the Bolton Evening News, a plan has been submitted to Bolton Council by Paul Roberts, who runs Bar Juice in Nelson Square. He wants to open a lap dancing club on the second floor of his building.

His plans have attracted widespread criticism from Canon Williams, who claims the club would offend people from all faiths.

He said: "I don't know what to think about these new plans. Is pole dancing just a bit of fun because people are keeping their clothes on?

"There are limits for public behaviour and one must make a judgement in each case."