A NEGLECTED area full of sex shops and empty stores or a vibrant, bustling space that hosts live events – just what is the future for Bournemouth Triangle?

That is the question being asked by traders and residents after councillors granted licences for two new sex shops at the Triangle – and then days later announced ambitious plans to regenerate the area.

Councillors on Bournemouth’s licensing committee insisted there were no grounds to refuse the two sex shop applications, which will take the total in the area to four.

White Tiger Europe Ltd was granted a sex establishment licence for 12 months for Triangle Adult Store, a lifestyle shop for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender customers, run by the former manager of Clone Zone.

Despite a flood of objections from traders Darker Enterprises has been given permission to take over the licence formerly held by the Clone Zone, which went into administration in January. It plans a new store called Private Shop.

Appealing to the licensing committee to reject the Darker Enterprises' application, former mayor Cllr Bob Chapman said: “It’s flying in the face of everything this council is trying to do, at considerable cost to the taxpayers of this town and will do nothing to lift the appearance of the Triangle area.”

But on Wednesday, Cllr Chapman, who is the cabinet member for major projects, announced plans to seek £274,000 of funding to realise the potential of the Triangle.

The funding will kickstart a series of improvements, which could include creating a pedestrian-only area, an events space with seating and attractive landscaping and improvements to the road network.

“This area has been in steady decline and we’ve been concerned about the number of vacant shop units,” said Cllr Chapman.

“The Triangle has great potential – Tesco recently opened a store there and our landmark library is a major asset. Through the Town Centre Master Vision we hope to make key parts of Bournemouth more attractive – the Triangle will be one of many regeneration projects.”

The turn of events has left traders wondering whether the promised regeneration, which has been in the pipeline for several years, will ever materialise.

Mary Stuart of Dancezie said she was “disappointed” councillors had little choice but to approve the sex shop applications.

“The council ought to make a nice family area. They had their hands tied with legislation,” she said.

And Michael Dowling of 5th Avenue Hair and Beauty of Bolivia said: “If the council wants to attract more shoppers and businesses it has got to be creating something for families, not these types of people.

“I’m looking at 10 empty shops.”

Jason Appleby, manager of The All New Chez L’amour in the Triangle, said most of his customers were middle-aged, buying items similar to those from Ann Summers.

Neither needs a sex shop licence as the percentage of “sex articles” it sells is low.

“I’m not sure what they think is going to happen if two more shops are here,” he said. “Most people don’t notice this shop when they walk past.”

Plans for a £2m pedestrianised scheme for the area, with space for performances, markets and book fares, were welcomed by traders in 2003 but came to nothing.