More than half of licensees oppose law change
A survey on licensing reform commissioned by pub giant JD Wetherspoon has found that just over half of licensees want the granting of licenses to stay with magistrates, and not be moved to local authorities as proposed by the Government's White Paper.
The survey of 1,017 licensees in England and Wales showed that 52% wanted licensing to remain with magistrates, 14% wanted it transferred to local authorities, and 34% had no preference.
Of those asked, 90% said they had not been consulted on licensing reform..
The bill to change the law was dropped from the Queen's Speech at the last minute and is likely to stay shelved for another two years.
JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin and 17 other independent brewers have fought a campaign against the Government's proposals, which they say will be more expensive and bureaucratic.
But other industry leaders are critical of Martin's campaign.
Licensing reform will affect 177,000 businesses, 122,000 of which are not pubs.
Ian McKerracher, chief executive of the Restaurant Association, expressed frustration at the lack of a bill and a timetable but said: "This is exactly the time when the industry should be showing its solidarity and mettle."
He described Martin's campaign as "baffling" and "chipping away piecemeal at what is essentially worthwhile, radical and far-reaching reform."
