An application from a Cambridge sex shop for permission to open on Sundays has caused outrage amongst family campaign groups and members of the Christian community.

‘The Private Shop’, on Chesterton Road, is hoping to be the first shop of its kind to persuade Cambridge City Council to extend its trading hours to Sundays.

The sex shop, whose website claims they are “the only place on the High Street where you can legally buy R18 strength hardcore sex films legally’”, has applied to the Council Licensing Committee for permission to open between 10am and 4pm on Sundays.

Local sex shops are currently prevented from trading on Sundays, Good Friday and Christmas Day according to rules set by Cambridge City Council.

Before a decision is reached, ‘The Private Shop’, part of a chain which sells various pornographic items, must agree to a “process of consultation”. This will involve the shop’s owners, alongside the Council, consulting the locals likely to be affected by the change to assess their feelings on the matter. The results will then be presented to the Council Licensing Committee for assessment.

There has been dissent expressed towards the proposed Sunday opening time. Some professed Christians have posted comments online to the effect that the potential Sunday opening of ‘The Private Shop’ will cause serious offense. Allegations about the exploitation of women by the sex industry have also been expressed in these comments. However, many people also remain ambivalent about the proposals.

‘Keep Sunday Special’, a campaign group based in Cambridge, has made its views on the application clear. Speaking to Varsity, Peter Lynas, a spokesperson for the group, said “We oppose this application – we want to see less shopping on Sundays, not more, so that people can enjoy a shared day off with their families.

“‘Keep Sunday Special’ is about family and community relationships, rest and respecting faith. Increasing the opening hours of this shop won’t help any of these.

‘We hope the council will respect the views of the majority of people who do not want greater Sunday opening and reject this application.”

The manager of ‘The Private Shop’ itself declined to make any comment on the application.

Cambridge City Council is not the only one to receive proposals of this kind. Applications for Sunday trading in sex shops have been submitted to councils in Derby, Stockport, Cardiff, Bradford and Worcester, amongst others. A decision about ‘The Private Shop’s’ application will be made in the next few weeks.