Pro-pub MP's reform plea

An influential pro-pub MP is to write to the Home Office asking for the short consultation into the planned overhaul of licensing to be extended.

All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group chairman Alan Meale will also ask for more roadshow dates — after hosts in his Mansfield constituency complained of being unable to attend.

The group's view is mirrored across the industry, where operators and industry experts have been left frustrated that places are already booked up. Five roadshow dates were initially announced as part of the six-week consultation.

Two extra dates have since been added: a morning-only session on 16 August and a morning and afternoon session in Nottingham, on 26 August, for those unable to attend a previous Birmingham event.

Beer Group secretary Robert Humphreys said Meale "intends to ask the minister to extend the consultation and to arrange more consultation sessions so that more interested parties can participate".

"Alan has also had quite a few constituent licensees who applied for places on consultation hearings and not one of them has had a place, and he's concerned."

Trade experts fear a lack of industry involvement will mean the industry's voice won't be heard as the Government looks at the plans.

A delegate list from a London session, seen by the Morning Advertiser​, shows that of the 104 people present, 54 were from local authorities. Just 11 were from the pub trade. Others were from the health sector (14), police (11), residents' bodies (five), licensing lawyers (six) and supermarkets (three).

Janet Dooner, of the Railway Tavern in Newham, east London, failed to get into the London sessions and said: "I am fuming the trade is not being properly represented at these sessions."

• To apply for a place at the new roadshow dates, email nypbuby.pbafhygngvba@ubzrbssvpr.tfv.tbi.hx​.