Nightmare of form-filling

Licensed victuallers associations across the country say the sheer weight of form-filling and copying is a nightmare.

Mike Stevens, of Worcestershire LVA, said the situation was a virtual farce and he was not aware of any licensee who had completed an application. "The fundamentals are not clear because a lot of the procedures are open to different interpretations and your understanding may not tally with the local council. The guidance is not clear enough and I think many applications will be rejected because licensees cannot understand things."

Jayne Hall, of Stockport LVA, said getting the forms filled in had proved a nightmare and getting the information required by the council had been very difficult.

John Hudson, of the Crossways Motel, Thornaby near Durham, a past FLVA president, said too many licensees were adopting a "head in the sand" attitude. "Some do not realise the urgency now required in getting their applications in and they are in for a big shock," he predicted.