The Mayor, his wife and their lap dancing club

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Tories call for Hounslow's Mayor to resign following an adult entertainment application

In light of recent newspaper coverage surrounding the Mayor of Hounslow, Hounslow Council Conservative Group, are calling for Cllr Darshan Grewal to resign.

The call came after a story, published in the Hounslow Chronicle, alleged that the Mayor's wife, Mrs Gurpreet Grewal, had applied for 'an adult entertainment' licence for the Sanson Palais club - also known as Mystique nightclub - in Bath Road, Hounslow.

The Mayor, was said to be 'stunned' that his wife's name was involved in the application and announced within hours that the application to Hounslow Council had been withdrawn claiming that he didn't think Hounslow needed it. He told the newspaper, "This would not work in Hounslow and I was not happy with the 3am licence because people need to be sleeping at that time. I am not gaining from this."

Although the Mayor admitted to "always being in the club" he claimed he had no idea how his wife's name appeared on the application. The newspaper, who published the licence application in question under the Licensing Act 2003, also alleged that the club's owner is none other than Darshan Grewal.

Calling for the Mayor's resignation, Cllr Peter Thompson, Leader of the Hounslow Conservative Group, said, "The importance of the position is widely recognised and it is the highest office that the residents of Hounslow, through their elected representatives, can confer on a Member of the Council. The Mayor is the Borough's First Citizen and represents Hounslow at hundred of events, both inside and outside the Borough, during the year, as well as chairing Borough Council Meetings.  The Mayor must be non-political and must be seen to represent every section of the community regardless of political persuasion."

"We have often argued in Borough Council meetings that the Cllr Grewal is politically biased as mayor and that he is unable to run the Borough Council Meetings in a competent manner. Now it seems that he is equally inept in his own business dealings. Local residents will draw their own conclusions in this case but at the very least it is obvious to us that he is now a laughing stock and an embarrassment and therefore he ought to resign with immediate effect."

Cllr Darshan Grewal was appointed Mayor of Hounslow in May 2005. Speaking of his appointment, Cllr Grewal said "I am delighted and truly honoured to take on the role of Mayor of our Borough. I am looking forward to a year in which I can do my best to promote the London Borough of Hounslow, serve our community, and work towards a safe and harmonious Hounslow.”

February 26, 2006