SIGNIFICANT numbers of local ?watering holes? could be out of action in time for Christmas and New Year, with many licensed premises leaving it to the bitter end to apply for new alcohol licences. Under the new law, all licensed premises in West Devon have to apply to the borough council by August 6, even if they do not want to vary their opening hours. Those that do not do so will find it much more difficult to re-obtain a licence ? past that date they lose the right to unconditionally renew their existing licence. Without a valid licence when the new system goes live later in the year, current licensed premises will not be able to sell alcohol at all. Latest figures indicate that the majority of licensees have yet to apply ? West Devon Borough Council has received just 138 out of a possible 500 personal licence applications and 97 out of a possible 300 premises licence applications. Before completing the application forms, licensees are strongly advised to refer to the West Devon Borough Council website for more information on how to make a valid application. The premises (conversion and variation) application forms can be downloaded and contain detailed guidance and what documents should support the application and who to send it to. Go on to http://www.westdevon.gov.uk">www.westdevon.gov.uk and click on to Licensing Application Forms under the Hot Topics section on the left hand side of the page. You can also contact the licensing team by email on [email protected]">[email protected] or by telephone on 01822 813600.
