A COASTAL town with one of the largest populations of OAPs in the country seems like the last place you’d likely find a pole dancing class.
But the elderly neighbours of one instructor, who offers lessons to locals in Christchurch, , have had enough of the incessant “grunting”; coming from her home studio.
Samilou Saunders, who currently runs the sessions from her converted garage at her £700,000 bungalow, has now had to submit a planning application to continue using the space for lessons thanks to her prude neighbours.
The converted garage, which features aerial fitness hoops, silk sashes and several poles, is where she holds up to 20 hours of classes a week for her company Samilou Pole and Aerial Fitness Studio.
Fans of the workshops have accused neighbours of “generational bias”;, but those living nearby have had enough of the “loud music, grunting and chatting”; coming from the garage on their peaceful street.
Samilou, who spoke to to give her side of the story, has even been forced to remove her business logo, a silhouette of a pole dancer, from her car so not to offend anyone.
Local Alan Forage, 83, told us: “We residents are all reasonably old and at our age we just want peace and quiet in a nice area.”;
Alan complained about the “grunting and loud music”; heard in summer when windows were left open.
Other neighbours who live at the rear of Samilou’s property claim the studio is “spoiling our daily living and enjoyment of our home.”;
Several letters of objection have been lodged with , Christchurch & Poole Council from locals, complaining about noise and parking problems caused by the fitness studio.
In an objection to the application, neighbours said: “The noise from activity and loud music emanating from this prohibited building can be heard on a daily basis.”;
As a result, they say they are left “feeling totally hopeless and constantly stressed.”;
‘My dream of 20 years’
Samilou was emotional when commenting on the ongoing planning battle, saying that the war with neighbours had been taking its toll.
She says: “This is my absolute dream of 20 years, having my own studio, and I’m trying to do everything right.
“But it’s been going on for ages now, and some of the comments made online have just been awful.”;
They have just got completely the wrong idea about pole dancing classes
Samilou Saunderspole dancing instructor
Showing off her studio, which has state-of-the-art equipment, Samilou said: “It’s air conditioned, so we don’t even have the windows open.
“The music is really low because I want to create a nice calm atmosphere.
“To be honest, I feel whatever I do will not be right, people around here are elderly, and I think they have just got completely the wrong idea about pole dancing classes.
“They are welcome to come along and have a look if they’d like and join a class. I have people of all ages, all professions as students. Linda is my oldest and she is just wonderful, a great advert.”;
Linda Ryan, 72, has been a student of Samilou’s for 16 years and puts her fantastic physique down to pole dancing.
She was “devastated”; when the classes had to be halted during Covid and says she would be again if Samilou were forced to shut her studio.
In a letter to planning bosses, she said: “As a more mature student, I greatly appreciate Sami’s small, quiet classes and her individual attention to my requirements and physical limitations.
“I benefit both physically and mentally from Sami’s classes – and retaining a high level of flexibility and stamina is a huge bonus for my ballroom dancing.
“In addition, my husband, who is also my ballroom dance partner, is proud to announce to anyone who will listenI sincerely hope I will be enjoying Sami’s classes for many years to come.”;
We, the residents, are all reasonably old and at our age we just want peace and quiet in a nice area.
Alan Forage, 83
Speaking at her home in Bournemouth, Linda added: “Samilou has had such a big backlash on social media, it’s very upsetting. I’ve sent my support in for her application.”;
Samilou added: “I think the grunting comment was a reference to my he has, but that has nothing to do with the studio and he is definitely not loud.”;
Despite the complaint, Samilou has taken appropriate steps to reduce any noise, even welcoming an environmental health officer into her home.
She says: “I did ask an environmental health officer about whether people chatting was a nuisance and he said ‘no not at all.’
“He came to have look and did not seem to have any concerns at all, so I am hopeful.”;
‘Classes are highlight of my week’
Samilou, whose 12-year-old daughter is a junior pole dancing champion, is also being backed by Dr Gemma Westcott, who calls her “inspirational.”;
Supporting her application to , Christchurch and Poole Council she wrote: “These classes are a highlight of my week.
“Pole is an incredible aerial sport and form of exercise, those of us who attend feel stronger, happier and undeniably more confident.”;
“I would be absolutely devastated if they ended.”;
One of Samilou’s immediate neighbours says she is also hoping the studio gets approved, saying: “My daughter is getting married and I’d like to book it out for the hen party. I think it would be great fun.”;
Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council told The Sun that they could not comment at this time.
A council spokesperson said that the “application is still under consideration”; with several objection letters lodged.
