Derbyshire club chiefs hit back at '˜closure' petition that has gained more than 3,500 signatures

A Derbyshire nightclub has hit back at a petition calling for the nightspot's closure after a spate of alleged '˜violent incidents'.
Keep checking our website for the latest news.Keep checking our website for the latest news.
Keep checking our website for the latest news.

The petition, against the Association Ripley, has gained more than 3,500 signatures.

Organisers of the online petition, on Change.org, claim they have been subjected to ‘rude’ and ‘intimidating’ behaviour at the site and have called for the Church Street club to be ‘boycotted’ or ‘shut down’.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But club chiefs have argued staff take safety of customers ‘very seriously’.

It comes after Derbyshire Constabulary confirmed officers were investigating complaints about an alleged assault at the nightclub door in the early hours of Sunday, November 11.

Concerns raised on the petition, listed on the Change.org website, include claims of anti-social behaviour and violent incidents.

Posting on the page, Leia Castledine said: “I’ve seen some really awful things while I’ve been there.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Sophie Ogden posted: “The amount of complaints about this place is ridiculous.

A Facebook group, called ‘Boycott Association Ripley’, set up on the back of the petition, has also gained more than 3,500 members.

Friends Rachel Orme, Rhiane Lawrence and Nicole Pettipierre set up the petition after their own experiences at the club.

Rachel said: “A lot of places are very friendly in Ripley and you can always have fun and a laugh, even with strangers you meet on a night out.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It’s time we spoke out about this and made a difference.”

A spokesperson for The Association said: “We are professional and experienced operators.

“We have traded at The Association for the last four years and see over 2,000 customers a week.

“The incident that people are commenting on was reported to the police by ourselves on the night and they viewed the CCTV on the night and were happy with the way the situation was handled.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Unless these commentators were there on the night and witnessed the incident they are not really positioned to comment as they are two sides to every story.”

If you know anything about the incident at the club on November 11, call Derbyshire police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously and in confidence, on 0800 555111.