Hopes that pubs could be given more time to apply for new licences have been dashed. In an exclusive face-to-face interview with The Publican, new licensing minister James Purnell stressed that trade calls for the Second Appointed Day (SAD) - the date by which all pubs and licensees must have new licences - would not be heeded.
Earlier this month trade leaders urged the government to delay the start of the new regime or face a catastrophe as licensees across the country fail to get their applications in before the August 6 deadline for grandfather rights.
A recent poll on thePublican.com revealed that three-quarters of licensees want the start of the new regime put back from the suggested date in November. But Mr Purnell denies the government has any intention of delay and is urging the trade to get its applications in.
He told The Publican: "I am not intending to tear up the framework we have got in place. Some people have been comforting themselves with that idea.
"Obviously only five per cent of people have applied for licences so far. But the message is clear that you should apply before August 6 - preferably well before. If you put in an application at the last minute and it is wrong, then licensees will miss this window and will have to reapply for a new licence."
The UK's largest licensing authority, Westminster City Council, and Westminster Licensees' Association (WLA), are among those which have called for a delay to the SAD. Audrey Lewis, who heads up licensing at Westminster, said: "I'm disappointed. We asked Mr Purnell if we could talk about the problems. I am surprised he has made his mind up so quickly."
Kate Nicholls, spokeswoman for WLA, said Mr Purnell's comments revealed a "complete lack of awareness of the problems the licensed trade is facing".
But she added: "We appreciate the difficulties for the government in delaying the SAD. But it would really help if he could come down off the fence and confirm when the SAD is actually going to be, so licensees can start planning for Christmas and beyond."
The government is launching an awareness programme next week to make sure that all operators know of their responsibilities under the new Act. The campaign will involve advertising and media interviews.
"We have put a programme in place to get people to apply. In the end that's their responsibility but our responsibility is to make sure we have done everything we can to get the message across," Mr Purnell declared.
"By the end of June I hope it will be hard to say there has been a lack of communication."
- Click hereto read our interview with the new licensing minister in full.