WALLER WELCOMES GOVERNMENT CLIMB DOWN ON LICENSING (York Liberal Democrats)

York Liberal Democrats <info@yorklibdems.org.uk>

WALLER WELCOMES GOVERNMENT CLIMB DOWN ON LICENSING

January 20, 2005 12:00 AM

Cllr Andrew Waller, Executive Member for Environment & Sustainability today welcomed the Government's change of heart on licensing. In new rules granted to local authorities there would be more fees from large "vertical drinking" city centre pubs. However, acknowledgement of the true cost of additional policing was sidestepped.

In political posturing, the government has said that "problem pubs" would be allowed to run for 8 weeks before intervention, but there was no explanation as to how these pubs or clubs would differ from current instances where the Police could simply close the establishment down instantly. The changes to the licensing laws have been in chaos for the last 12 months and look set to continue so until after the General Election.

Cllr Waller said "Clearly the Government has been caught out. They were saying one thing to young drinkers and promising the ending of drinking limits, but were being criticized for potentially creating anarchy in our city centres. Council tax payers were also in danger of being landed with a bill to pay for the privilege of the relaxed regime as councils were landed with additional costs. The new changes in fees do go some way to addressing the deficit. But I am concerned about the smaller traditional pubs, in and around York centre , which give the city its character because they will be paying more under this new system for running the same service. "

"The Government should look at a way on the weekend to stop people converging on ever later opening pubs, otherwise the problems will make a mockery of the idea that the new laws will lead to a more gradual dispersal of people from the city centre after a night out."