Longer hours force licensees out
Publicans across Telford are leaving the trade because of the effect of the new licensing laws, according to the town's Licensed Victuallers' Association. Publicans across Telford are leaving the trade because of the effect of the new licensing laws, according to the town's Licensed Victuallers' Association. The publicans' group claims there has been a sharp rise in the number of pubs closing since 24-hour drinking was introduced a year ago, as pubs in the area try to compete with each over extended opening times. Telford's licensees were among the best in the country at meeting the November 24 deadline last year for registering under the act, which brought about 24-hour drinking hours and made councils responsible for drink licensing. But a number of pubs around are now boarded up, such as The Red Admiral in Sutton Hill and The White Hart in Dawley. At the group's annual general meeting yesterday, chairman Trish Taggart said the decline in the trade was partly due to the hours publicans were now being forced to work, and increasing red-tape. She said: "We have seen a high number of licensees leaving the trade. The problem now is the hours they are putting in themselves and the hours of their competitors." Ms Taggart also said she was concerned that membership of the LVA was falling because pubs were constantly changing hands, meaning the association was becoming a weaker voice. Only six licensees turned up to the meeting at the Duke of York pub in Oakengates, with overall membership dropping from more than 100 to about 50 in the last 12 months. The association claims this is because publicans no longer need to use it to apply to magistrates for licensing extensions. But secretary Eddie Main said the group provided much more than that, giving publicans a forum to share problems. He said: "We have got to get more members or we will have to give 12 months' notice that there will be no more LVA in Telford. It is our AGM and we have got more guests than members." By Steve Todd