Risque Adult Boutique, currently located in Hams Street, is set to relocate to 9-11 Railway Street (previously Bike Bits) after being given the green light by councillors at Tuesday night’s meeting.

The shop – which sells adult videos and magazines, marital aids, adult gifts and novelties – will be two doors up from Hunky Dory kids centre and directly across the road from St Vincent de Paul’s Griffith Centre.

Hunky Dory owner Melanie Grady said it was planning madness to allow a sex shop so close to a young children’s play area.

“I’m shocked. This is a silly spot to put it,” Mrs Grady

said.

“Where they are now is far more appropriate a site, for the people going into the shop as well as everyone else.

“Some of our more conservative parents are not going to be impressed by this and it might affect our business.”

St Vincent de Paul made a formal objection to council, saying the shop would “be offensive to the young and elderly we deal with every day”.

Council’s senior town planner Rishelle Turner recommended councillors support the application on planning principles

alone, saying any moral objection was “not a relevant consideration”.

The site is zoned 4 (a) general industrial and was not on a high traffic street, Ms Turner said.

In a written submission, owner Pat Tripodi urged councillors to allow the move.

“Risque is a retail store which has been in Griffith for three years. We ask council not to be biased on our DA as there are many stores throughout Australia that trade within CBD areas, including main streets.”

The applicants included letters from retailers in Hams Street, confirming Risque was run professionally and had no adverse effect on their business.

Mr Tripodi claimed the move was due to growing demand in Risque’s products, the need for larger premises and the suggestion from existing customers to move closer to the CBD.

Only councillors Pat Pittavino, Christine Stead and Anne Napoli opposed the DA.

“I’m not against business, but a shop like this should

not be in the CBD, especially near St Vincent’s and a

child care centre,” Cr Napoli said.

The entrance to the store will have a partition wall, while a window display at the eastern end will display mannequins in lingerie and other novelty items.

The southern window and doors will be frosted and display signage.

Risque will open seven days a week, from 9am to 10pm.