eurealist.co.uk

Light Blogging because of this below and I am busy at work sorry!

One thing I will say my local government representative, who must be up to his neck in work is always available to help me and every other licensee struggling through the red tape imposed by government, every time I have telephoned he has answered my call himself with a jolly and helpful attitude.

Navigating through the red tape of the new licensing laws - Comment - Times Online: “Navigating through the red tape of the new licensing laws
From the Chairman of the Local Government Association
Sir, Time is about to be called on publicans and shopkeepers who have not renewed their licences by Saturday’s deadline (report and leading article, August 3). Come November, you may not be able to buy a pint at your local or pick up some sauvignon at your corner shop.

The Government was right to switch licensing from magistrates to local authorities, but it was wrong to make the changes so bureaucratic that businesses have found them an intolerable burden. Councils have been working hard during the past six months to help licensed premises to navigate through the red tape.

Amidst fears of pubs running dry of beer, however, there is a danger that we might lose sight of the very real benefits of the reforms. Handing responsibility for licensing over to councillors gives people a far greater say over how their local pubs, clubs and takeaways operate. If local residents become unhappy, they can express their views at public hearings, ask for a review of the licence or show their disdain at the ballot box. So, in the interests of local democracy, let’s raise a cheer to the new system.

SANDY BRUCE-LOCKHART
Westminster, London

The old sytem worked fine, and the new sytem does not bring with it an increase in democractic accountablility.

From Mr Timothy Kirkhope, MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber Region (Conservative)

Sir, When I was the minister responsible for licensing and gambling regulation (1995-97) I tried to balance the need for sensible relaxation of the rules with the needs of a changing society, with control and protection against the worst forms of abuse such as binge drinking and addiction.

In the latter requirement I was helped enormously by the presence of our magistrates’ courts in the equation. Since the Labour Government has sidelined the courts in favour of local authority control we have had nothing but trouble.

Enormous increases in the costs of licensing and in petty bureaucracy have disadvantaged both providers and the public. The old system was not broken. Why discard it for this disastrous alternative?

TIMOTHY KIRKHOPE
(Group of the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats)

From Mr Alfred Friday

Sir, It is not just commercial operations that have problems with the new licensing laws. Many community groups and local halls are confronted with huge difficulties following the abolition of the old Occasional Permissions and their replacement by a new system of Temporary Events Notices.

The old scheme allowed for multiple advance applications to be made by any organisation, up to a maximum of 12 per year, at a total cost of £10. I understand that the new arrangements mean that unless the premises’ owners can apply for a full club licence, there is a limit of only five permissions a year (£21 each) for any applicant and a limit of 12 permis sions a year for any building.

The Government seems much more anxious to bring us round-the-clock drinking than to allow people to enjoy the monthly parish cheese and wine party or low-cost church hall wedding receptions.

ALFRED FRIDAY
Sunbury, Middlesex