Brothel sets up shop next to primary school

HANNAH SPYKSMA

A brothel shut down in Auckland last year has reopened in an apartment block next to a primary school.

Firecats Escorts is operating from a Brown St apartment near Richmond Road Primary School.

Neighbours of an Ascot Ave brothel spent three months gathering evidence and liaising with Auckland Council to get the business shut down. The brothel was found to be unlawful and was served with an abatement notice.

Firecats set up shop in Ponsonby late last year and  has been operating without a licence while Auckland Council processes a resource consent application which the business filed in mid-December.

There are more than 30 girls listed on the business' website which operates seven days a week.

Brothels are considered ''entertainment facilities'' and Firecats Escorts is allowed to operate in the area which is zoned business mixed use as long as it complies with conditions in the council's district plan.

But because the brothel is within 30 metres of a residential zone and there isn't enough parking space in the street for its clients, Firecats needs to apply for a licence.

''We're just waiting to see if it's legal and then it's just a matter of monitoring its impact,'' Richmond Road Primary School principal Stephanie Anich says.

Their school term begins on February 7, but Anich isn't too concerned about the brothel which she says is more likely to affect residents and businesses on the street.

Last week a flyer was distributed by some residents on Brown St voicing concerns about the new neighbour.

Near impossible parking on the street and the fact Firecats was operating without a licence were the main concerns.

At present there is nothing in the district plan that stops brothels that comply with all other conditions from operating next to a primary school.

Waitemata Local Board member Tricia Reade says the board will await the result of the resource consent application with interest.

''We are not opposed to good professional brothels being set up in the city but in a residential area next to a school doesn't seem appropriate,'' she says.

Auckland Council resource consents manager Heather Harris says the application is on hold for the moment.

Firecats Escorts was asked to provide the council with more information about the business on January 25.

They have 15 days to respond.

- © Fairfax NZ News