Local Government

Pub campaigners key in forcing planning changes

Pub campaigners key in forcing planning changes

By Ellie Bothwell

The strength of campaigning by local residents was a key factor in the decision to issue two pubs with ‘article 4 directions’, according to the local authorities involved.

Cumulative impact: The impact on licensing

Cumulative impact: The impact on licensing

By Poppleston Allen

There is little doubt that cumulative impact or saturation policies are having an increasingly significant “impact” on the licensing process.

Major of London Boris Johnson planning policy boroughs protect pubs

Boris calls on London boroughs to protect pubs

By Ellie Bothwell

London boroughs have been encouraged to develop specific policies to protect pubs in Mayor Boris Johnson’s new planning policy for the capital, which for the first time recognises the “important role” of pubs.

Call for Government to further strengthen ACV planning laws

Call for Government to further strengthen ACV planning laws

By Ellie Bothwell

The Communities and Local Government (CLG) Committee has called on the Government to increase the moratorium on the sale of a pub listed as an asset of community value from six to nine months, after claiming that nearly half of all community bids for...

Under the new laws, police now have beefed up powers to close pubs

Police get new powers to close 'problem pubs'

By Mike Berry

New powers have come into force which make it easier for police and local authorities to force a pub to shut immediately and restrict access to the premises.

Robert Sayles:

Viable pubs need greater protection

By Robert Sayles

Amidst stories of pubs being converted into supermarkets, housing, betting shops and God knows what else; it’s nice on occasion to hear of a pub that seemingly manages to escape such an ignominious fate, says Robert Sayles.

CAMRA issues advice to councils on saving the British pub

CAMRA issues advice to councils on saving the British pub

By Ellie Bothwell

The Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA) has published a series of recommendations outlining how local councils can take action to save pubs, following new research that confirms 28 pubs are closing each week.

Locally set licence fees consultation roadshow

Councils show 'little appetite' for locally-set licence fees

By John Harrington

There seems little appetite from local authorities for the power to set licensing fees locally “with all the administration and probable hassle this would bring”, according to views expressed at the first of four dedicated Home Office-hosted roadshows.

Blackpool Council EMRO

Blackpool delays EMRO hearing for second time

By Ellie Bothwell

Blackpool Council has deferred a hearing into a proposed early morning restriction order (EMRO), which was due to take place from today until Friday, 13 December, after the licensing trade highlighted procedural irregularities in the pre-hearing procedure.

Oceana Kingston licence review

Kingston Oceana survives licence review

By Michelle Perrett

Luminar, the nightclub operator, will continue to trade its Kingston Oceana site after it agreed to a set of new licence conditions with the local council.

Pubs bars EMROs late night levy

Majority of local authorities shun EMROs and late-night levies

By John Harrington

More than three quarters of local authorities have ruled out introducing either an early morning restriction order (EMRO) or a late night levy (LNL) in the near future, while just 1% say they plan to introduce either measure, according to a survey of...

EMRO: even monkeys reject outright...

EMRO: even monkeys reject outright...

By Rob Willock

The early-morning restriction order (EMRO) is one of those nasty, Draconian pieces of licensing legislation that we ignore at our peril.

Pubs should be wary of growing local authority power

Pubs should be wary of growing local authority power

By Poppleston Allen

The Local Government Association (LGA) and Alcohol Research UK recently co-authored a document entitled Public Health and Alcohol Licensing in England, essentially a briefing note for councillors and council officers, highlighting the fact that public...