'There's nothing sleazy about me'
A BUSINESSMAN who is going ahead with a sex shop despite protests from nearby residents and traders claims it will improve standards.
The Love Boutique is the brainchild of former BT engineer Andrew Berry, 33, a businessman from Northwich who believes Crewe is the ideal location for his new venture.
Selling sex toys, raunchy outfits and adult films, the shop will be based in former TV repair premises at 100 Nantwich Road.
Father-of-three Mr Berry said: 'The shop will stand out with its bright pink design, but so do many other shops along Nantwich Road.
'But there will be nothing in the window to make families cringe with embarrassment when they walk past it.
'The typical image of a sex shop is boarded up windows and dark colours and the aim was to get away from that sleazy look and make it an attractive place where couples and singles will want to look round.
'There's nothing sleazy about me. I'm a businessman.
'And no matter what people may think of them, sex shops are legal. Sex is big business.
'There is definitely a gap in the market in Crewe.
'With only one sex shop in the borough, it has the monopoly. Unless local people travel to Chester or Stoke-on-Trent they are deprived of choice and value for money.
'Another shop will improve standards.'
But protesters, who objected at a licensing committee meeting last week, say the Love Boutique will not improve the image of Nantwich Road where millions of pounds are being spent on revamping it as the Gateway to Crewe.
Borough councillor Ray Stafford said: 'As a Christian I am against the shop. There's already one in Crewe and many local people believe the same as me, there's no place for a second.'
Mr Berry, who currently manages sex shops in Stockport and Preston, is taking on staff for his Love Boutique which will open towards the end of the month.