A PETITION has been launched opposing plans to convert a building in the centre of Salisbury into the city's third sex shop.

The council's licensing officers have received an application seeking permission to turn the current X S Appliances premises on Brown Street into a sex shop, selling explicit films and other adult material.

A consultation period is currently under way but some concerned Salisbury residents are branding the plans inappropriate because of the shop's central location.

Postman Andy Woodger, who launched the petition, said: It's right in the middle of town, where lots of children pass by on their way to nursery, and just up the road from the Baptist Church.

Families use the street all the time when they go shopping.

It's completely wrong to have that sort of shop there.

The petition is being circulated among shops and businesses in the area and has been signed by many members of the community, including Ina Burton, of the Friary, who says she will avoid the area if the sex shop goes ahead.

I walk down there all the time with my eight-year-old grandson but I will go another way if we have to go past a shop like that, she said.

I'm worried because young people always hang round the amusement arcade next door and we don't know who this shop will attract.

It's entirely the wrong place for it to be.

The outlet would be the third sex shop in Salisbury, which some believe is too many in a city of its size.

This is a cathedral city, which attracts a great many tourists, and I don't really think it's the image we want to portray, added Mr Woodger.

I've read about towns much larger than Salisbury limiting the number of these shops to two or three - I think the council should think about that before our city is degraded even further.

The consultation on the sex shop runs until December 5 and, if many objections are raised, the plans will go before the city area committee for a vote in January.

The Journal has tried to contact Timothy Hemming, who has applied for the licence, but has not been able to speak to him.ce Reform Act 2002 was "a powerful piece of legislation in cases where vehicles were used carelessly, or in a manner which caused alarm, distress or annoyance".

"Examples of this behaviour may include screeching of tyres, handbrake turns on a housing estate or in a supermarket car park, or even driving around with car windows open and excessively loud music being played," he said.

"Owners of seized vehicles are thereafter liable to a fee for the removal and storage of the vehicle until it is collected.

"This is normally more than £100, without storage costs."

Inspector Paul Williams, head of Salisbury police's traffic department, said: "The seizure of this vehicle should send out a clear message to drivers who drive in a careless, inconsiderate or antisocial manner.

"It also demonstrates that the force responds to public concerns and complaints about antisocial driving behaviour.

"Experience has shown that many such complaints are directed at young drivers, some using higher performance vehicles.

"These drivers are in a high-risk category in terms of being involved in road collisions and Wiltshire Constabulary will continue to use this and other legislation to reduce road deaths and casualties."

Insp AshfordSmith added that a number of other motorists in the area had already been issued with official warning notices.

These notices were valid for 12 months and further instances of bad driving of these vehicles might result in further seizures, he said.