A HEALTH club that recently opened in Blackburn town centre is operating as a ‘swingers’ venue, the Lancashire Telegraph can reveal.

The move by Heaven On Earth, which is a ‘stone’s throw’ from Blackburn Cathedral in St Peter’s Street, has been strongly criticised by community leaders as sending out the 'wrong message about the town'.

And a church leader added that he was ‘saddened’ by its arrival.

The club was initially advertised as a mixed steam room, sauna and jacuzzi but has now added ‘swingers’ club and swingers parties’ to its website.

It also describes itself on the site as a ‘brand new swingers’ club based in Blackburn’.

Swinging, whereby couples swap sexual partners, is not illegal, and the council confirmed the club did not need a specialist licence.

Heaven on Earth offers entry prices for single men and couples, while single women get in for free at all times.

Comments posted on the website include ‘met nice couple from Blackpool and enjoyed a great couple of hours there’ and ‘this would be my first time at a club . . . and was wondering if anyone would be up for holding my hand and maybe more'.

Mr Dhirubhai Patel, who said he was the spokesman for the business, said it opened as a health club first before moving into the swingers market.

He said: “People can come for the first time to see, but we want people to join as members.

It’s better for us and they get special offers.

“We don’t get involved in what they do. We are just trying out best to run a business.

“The members of the club know what to expect. What they do and what they don’t do is not my problem.”

He added: “People can come for the first time to see, but we want people to join as members, it’s better for us and they get special offers.

“We don’t allow large groups of lads or people coming from the pubs or clubs and there’s no entry after 11pm. We close at midnight.

So far we’ve only had good comments. People who come here say they have seen us on swinging websites such as Swinging Heaven.

“People tell us it’s one of the best they've come to. We don’t offer any services, just the facilities, which we’ve spent a lot of money on.”

The club opened in June, but the spokesman said: “The opening was long before we decided to do this swinging thing.”

Council leader Kate Hollern said: “I am surprised there’s a market for this in Blackburn. I don’t think it sends out the right message for the town at all —- it’s not very tasteful.

“It’s only a stone’s throw from the cathedral. I don’t think it’s appropriate.”

Lancashire Telegraph columnist the Rev Kevin Logan, who was the Vicar of Christ Church in Accrington before retiring, said: “My first reaction is one of sadness that such a wonderful gift should be abused by men and women in this way.

“It ruins, rather than rebuilds, relationships.”

The area is a key target in council bosses’ regener-ation plans — a ‘masterplan’ has already been drawn up for the Freckleton Street area which would see offices and houses built as part of the town hall’s ‘knowledge zone’ scheme.

This is dependent on getting permission to build a link road to connect to the £15million Wainwright Bridge, although a number of local businesses have already been purchased.

Phil Ainsworth, of Blackburn Town Centre Partner-ship, said: “It’s within the town centre core, and people walk past it on a regular basis.

“With the new shopping centre, we are trying to encourage more families into the town, and bus-inesses like this opening up make that awkward.

It sets the regeneration of Blackburn back.”

Cohesion worker Anjum Anwar, who is based at Blackburn Cathedral, said: “Why does the council allow things like this to happen?

“Don’t we have enough problems without these kinds of places? The Cathedral is a wonderful building, and the people of Blackburn will need to decide what sorts of institutions they want in their town.”

Chris Allen, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s licensing chief, confirmed Heaven on Earth was licensed to sell alcohol, but this was not currently being used because no premises supervisor had been put in place.

It is also licensed to show films.

Town centre police sergeant Dave Clarke said: “There’s nothing illegal in what they are doing. It has been subject to licensing visits to make sure they are adhering to their licensing conditions and have had no complaints.”