West Country licensees call for meeting with Tony Blair

As debate rages over plans for licensing reform, many licensees and pub operators have stepped up lobbying efforts to ensure their voice is heard.

A group of West Country licensees are calling for a meeting with Prime Minister Tony Blair to clarify the issue. They are concerned that the existing proposals could restrict flexibility and place further responsibilities on the trade. The group has also asked for a meeting with Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith as well as local MPs.

Joe Duthie, chairman of Licensed Victuallers Trade Association West, is heading the fight. He told thePublican.com that it was vital that concerns were ironed out now, but also that the trade spoke with a united front.

Meanwhile, Ted Tuppen, chief executive of Enterprise Inns, has written to licensing minister Dr Kim Howells at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. He has highlighted six key trade needs:

• less regulation that will not restrict pubs freedom to adapt to market needs
• local authorities will operate within national guidelines
• a personal licence will authorise the licensee to run any pub
• premises licences should not be jeopardised by breaches that are the fault of the licence holder
• no increase in the cost to the average pub
• local authorities cannot prosecute and adjudicate in the same case.

A spokeswoman for the government said she could not comment on ongoing consultation and could give no firm timetable for an announcement as yet.

Have your say​

We're asking you to have your say on licensing reform by taking part in our countrywide online survey.

We will be collating the responses we receive from the survey and presenting them to culture secretary Tessa Jowell to help clarify licensees' position on reform.

So fill in your survey now​ and get your voice heard.

Licensing reform - without doubt, the topic of the moment. Take a look at some of the views of those in the trade.

Related articles:​

Pubs to be hit with cost of reform for 24-hour licensing (20 June 2002)

Peaceful Jubilee bodes well for licensing reform (6 June 2002)

Relaxed hours put to the test during busiest week of the year (30 May 2002)

Reform campaigners put pen to paper (30 May 2002)