School thanks clients for brothel closure

The brothel that opened up across the road from Henderson Intermediate on Lincoln Road has now closed. Photo / Steven McNicholl.

A west Auckland school has a heartfelt message of thanks for the men who refused to use a brothel which opened across the road from its front gate earlier this year.

The brothel in Lincoln Rd, Henderson, opened in April in full view of the main entrance to Henderson Intermediate School, but closed a few days ago.

The brothel caused an outrage in the community with the school board chairman Ron Crawford saying the school's 500 students should be able to go to and from school without looking at a brothel, he said.

He had vowed to fight until the brothel closed.

Today Mr Crawford thanked the community for its support, including the clients who he believed stayed away because they objected to its location but also because vehicles would be easily recognised in such a high-profile location.

"Had the operation been well patronised by west Aucklanders it would still be open, I have no doubt about that. West Aucklanders did not see it as a place they wanted to patronise."

Clients took up the battle on behalf of the school, he said.

"I am glad people stayed away from it.

"I have also had prostitutes come to me and say they would not work in a place across the road from the school."

He was also grateful to a parent who called a trucking company after a driver "stopped for lunch".

After the call the truck was quickly driven off, Mr Crawford said.

Family First national director Bob McCoskrie said opening a brothel near the school entrance showed the law had failed and it was disappointing it took negative publicity and protests of residents, the school and parents to force the closure.

Families could avoid red light areas but to allow street prostitution in family shopping areas and brothels next to a family home or sensitive sites such as a schools, playgrounds or churches was unacceptable, he said.

Itt was time for the government to amend the law in the interests of families, he said..

- NZPA