Sex sign angers city leaders | Canterbury News | Local News in Canterbury

Civic leaders and tourism officials are appalled at the re-emergence of a sex sign in the central city.

Stacey's Massage Lounge is again advertising its afternoon "Wednesday orgy" for $120 an hour on a sign outside its Manchester St premises.

City councillors and the chief executive of Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism, Christine Prince, said the sign wasn't an image that the central city wanted to portray.

The city council can't do anything about the sign, but can complain to the Advertising Standards Authority.

The authority has received no complaints.

Ms Prince said she would not make a formal complaint but would be mentioning her concerns to the city council.

It sent the wrong message to visitors to the city and local residents, she said.

The massage lounge sign disappeared after The Star reported on it last September. A staff member told The Star yesterday they had received no complaints. She would not comment further.

City councillors David Cox and Gail Sheriff found the sign offensive.

"It's totally inappropriate," said Cr Cox.

"It's absolutely disgusting," said Cr Sheriff.

Obviously it's not an image that we want to portray and it's in the central city," she said.

Central City Business Association manager Paul Lonsdale said signs such as this had a negative effect on the city.

"It adds a low tone to an area when we have that. Quite honestly they (signs) are out of control," he said.

The debate over what is offensive regarding brothel signs was reignited last year when the controls came under review.

The issue was about deciding what was considered offensive.

The Christchurch City Brothels Location and Signage Bylaw was introduced in 2004, when prostitution became a legal activity.

The bylaw, the Advertising Standards Authority and the Resource Management Act currently control signs for the business of prostitution and brothels.

Following public consultation, the city council decided to develop a new bylaw before cancelling the existing one in July next year.

Advertising Standards Authority executive director Hilary Souter said if a complaint was made, the advertisement was assessed on whether it breached the standards authority's code.

The process usually took four to six weeks.

If upheld, the business owner would be asked to modify or remove the sign, said Ms Souter.

"Sometimes it's about bringing awareness to people. There are standards that are generally accepted by the community," she said.