WEST Devon licensees risk losing their business if they do not apply now for permission to operate under the Licensing Act 2003. With just weeks to go before the licence application deadline of August 5, West Devon Borough Council is warning licensees to act now. Four out of five licensees in West Devon have yet to apply to convert existing alcohol, public entertainment and late night refreshment house licences to a premises licence. A similar number have still not applied to convert the justices? licence to a personal licence, which is similarly needed if a person wishes to sell alcohol. To date just 60 out of an estimated 300 premises and 100 out of 500 personal licence applications have been received by the Council. There are also administrative problems with the applications so far. Nearly every application for a variation to licences received has been completed incorrectly. Cllr Roger Mathew, chairman of the planning and licensing committee, said: ?The lack of applications continues to be a worry and the difficulties licensees are having completing them only serves to make matters worse. ?Despite a plethora of information, guidance and numerous workshops, the trade has left applications to the last minute. While I am confident everyone will eventually get their new licences it is imperative that they act now.? Before completing the forms, licensees are strongly advised to refer to the borough council website for more information on how to make a valid application. The premises (conversion and variation) form, which can be downµloaded, contains detailed guidance on how to complete the form, 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. Jim Burdus, a council licensing officer said: ?The application forms, especially the variation, are not easy to complete and the potential for mistakes is high. To make matters worse applicants must also provide accurate copies of forms and all supporting documents to a number of other agencies including the police, fire service and environmental health. ?Licensees have to be very diligent to avoid mistakes which will void an application and delay matters even further.? More information is available on the Council website http://www.westdevon.gov.uk">www.westdevon.gov.uk or you can contact the licensing team by email at [email protected]">[email protected] or by telephone on 01822 813600.
