NEW licensing laws will have a significant impact on businesses in West Devon when they come into effect next year.

Consultation began on Monday on the Licensing Act 2003, which gives local authorities full responsibility for alcohol, and entertainment licensing.

Those holding a licence for alcohol, public entertainment, theatre, cinema, late night refreshments, night café or a registered members? club will be most affected.

The new law will mean that all current licenses will expire from November 2005.

From February 7, 2005, licensees will be able to apply to the council to convert all their old licences to the new if they wish to continue trading after November 2005.

Should they not convert their licences during this time period, they will not have a licence to trade.

Before the new law can take effect, the council must publish a licensing policy and a major consultation exercise on the proposed policy is being undertaken over the next 12 weeks.

Hundreds of people and dozens of organisations will be involved in the consultation process. They include more than 350 licensees, trade organisations, all parish councils and the business community.

Cllr Roger Mathew, chairman of West Devon Borough Council?s planning and licensing committee, said: ?I hope we shall have a good response to the consultation.

? We are making it as easy as we can for people to see a copy of the draft statement and to respond to it, because we very much want to get the policy right from the outset so that we are able to deal with applications promptly and fairly.

? The council still has a lot to do, so the sooner people send us their views, the better.?

The deadline for the proposed policy consultation is October 29, 2004 and the council is urging people to make their views known through their borough councillors, parish councils or trade organisations.

Copies of the proposals are being made widely available.

They can be viewed:

l At the receptions of the borough council?s offices in Oaklands Drive in Okehampton or Kilworthy Park, Tavistock

l At your local library

l Via the West Devon Borough Council website http://www.westdevon.gov.uk">www.westdevon.gov.uk where the proposed statement of licensing policy and further information about the Licensing Act 2003 can be seen.

If you wish to make any comments about the proposed policy or require further information email: [email protected]">[email protected] or write to:

Licensing Policy Team, Building Services, West Devon Borough Council, Kilworthy Park, Tavistock, Devon PL19 0BZ.