A pole dancer in Christchurch, Dorset, has found herself at the center of a community debate after local residents objected to her home-based fitness studio.
Samilou Saunders, who converted her garage into the Samilou Pole and Aerial Fitness Studio, offers a variety of pole dancing and aerial fitness classes.
The classes run for more than 20 hours a week, and many participants describe them as “inspirational.”
However, the noise and parking issues have left some of her elderly neighbors feeling frustrated and overwhelmed.
Neighbors Object to Noise and Parking Issues
The 700,000-pound bungalow, where Samilou runs her business, has become the subject of formal complaints to the Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole (BCP) Council.
Some residents have voiced concerns about the noise coming from the studio, including claims of loud music and “grunting” from the workshops.
One neighbor even expressed feeling “hopeless” due to the daily disturbances, stressing the impact on their quality of life.
Samilo is now fighting back, arguing that her neighbors have misunderstood the nature of her business.
She submitted a retrospective planning application to change the garage’s use from residential to mixed-use to continue running the fitness studio.
However, multiple residents have voiced strong opposition to the application, questioning whether a business should be operating in a quiet, residential area.
Samilou Responds to Critics
In her defense, Samilou points out that an environmental officer who visited her home had no concerns about the noise levels.
She also highlights the diverse range of people attending her classes, including a 72-year-old woman who has been pole dancing for 16 years.
Samilou is passionate about her business, which she considers the realization of a 20-year dream.
She explained that her efforts to appease her neighbors included removing the silhouette of a pole dancer from her car logo, aiming to reduce potential offense.
Additionally, Samilou clarifies that the “grunting” noise mentioned in the complaints was related to her husband’s use of a personal gym, not the studio.
“That has nothing to do with the studio,” she said, adding that her husband is not particularly loud.
Community Support for the Studio
Despite the opposition, some residents have expressed their support for the business.
One neighbor, who regularly walks his dog in the area, described the studio as unobtrusive, with no noise coming from the building during class hours.
He also emphasized that there is plenty of parking available, dismissing claims that the business causes inconvenience.
He compared the studio to other local health services, like chiropractors or physiotherapists, which contribute to the community’s well-being.
Another supporter shared a personal testimony, noting that her daughter had benefited greatly from the classes, returning home “happy, energized, and excited” after each session.
The classes, she said, provided her daughter with a much-needed escape from daily challenges.
The Future of the Pole Dance Studio
As of now, the council has yet to make a final decision regarding the planning application.
The outcome will determine whether Samilou can continue operating her fitness studio from her home or if she will need to find an alternative location.
For now, the debate over this local business continues, with both supporters and detractors making their voices heard.
The outcome remains uncertain, but it’s clear that the discussion has brought the community’s diverse perspectives into the spotlight.