DRINKERS across West Devon could be left high and dry this autumn due to a licensing backlog. Just a handful of pubs, clubs, theatres and takeaways in the borough have applied for permission to operate under the Licensing Act 2003. The licence application deadline is August 5 but West Devon Borough Council is warning licensees to act now. Despite widespread publicity over the last twelve months, the council fears that licensees will make their applications at the eleventh hour, leading to a backlog of applications, which may not be processed in time. To date, just 19 out of an estimated 300 premises and 39 out of 500 personal licence applications have been received by the council. The act, which is expected to come into force from November, means that any venue that sells or supplies alcohol, provides music or entertainment, or serves food between 11pm and 5am, has to apply for a licence. Jim Burdus, a council licensing officer, said: ?We could have many pubs which may simply not be able to open as they just won?t have their licences in time. ?If people leave it any longer there will be a huge number of applications to deal with in July and early August and there is a very real possibility that the local authority will not be able to process them in time. ?There is also the potential for objections to applications for variations which would then be subject to committee hearings for a decision and this will only serve to delay matters even further.? Already, council licensing staff have found forms completed incorrectly and some have had to be resubmitted. To help, West Devon licensing department has amended the application forms on its website at http://www.westdevon.gov.uk">www.westdevon.gov.uk and included more detailed guidance on how to complete them. Cllr Roger Mathew, chairman of the council?s planning and licensing committee, said: ?The time to put in applications is now. Businesses that leave it until the last few weeks are highly likely to find the processing log-jammed. ?This could leave them shut down or trading illegally. ?Whilst we regularly perform small miracles, an impossible late backlog would be just that ? impossible to clear in time to allow everyone who applies late to continue trading. ?I encourage everyone affected to pass the word to their colleagues and submit applications as soon as they can.? More information is available on the council website http://www.west">www.west devon.gov.uk or you can contact the licensing team by email at [email protected]">[email protected] or telephone 01822 813600.
