Council licensing officer Lionel Starling Picture Ref: 72583-51A LAST-MINUTE rush of applications from pub and restaurant owners for new licences is expected ahead of the deadline.

They have until tomorrow to apply for a new licence.

Businesses must apply for a new licence by then, or risk shutting down.

Lionel Starling, the licensing officer at Swindon Council, said: "We have estimated that the number of businesses in Swindon that need to apply for a new licence is around 490.

"By the time we reach the deadline we expect to have close to 400 of these applications in.

"Apart from the fact that we are completely inundated by everybody applying at the last minute, the figures are not as bad as they first appeared to be.

"The pubs have been very good but the restaurants have not been quite so efficient.

"Guest houses are also lagging behind."

But those who miss the deadline must attend and pass the BIIAB National Licence Holders course then apply from scratch for a new licence by the second deadline, of November 24. Businesses which miss this second deadline face being shut down.

Mr Starling said: "For people who miss the deadline it will be a bit of a nuisance.

"Their old licensing qualifications will no longer count and they will have to pay £155 to apply for the new licence."

Applications for the new licences can be posted to the council on Saturday as long as the envelope is franked with Saturday's date.

For those who miss the deadline the new BIIAB course is being run at New College throughout the summer.

Sandra Williams, the professional programmes manager at New College, said: "I am expecting a huge demand in the next few weeks for the new BIIAB National Licence Holders Club as the deadline passes and the old qualifications aren't accepted anymore by the council."

The first course starts on August 22 from 9.30am to 5pm at the Queens Drive campus.

It costs £155 to enrol. For more information call the New College switchboard on 01793 611470.

The new law

Under new licensing laws all licence applications will now be heard by the council not by the courts.

And instead of there being just one licence that applies to the premises, all businesses selling or serving alcohol must hold a premises licence and a personal licence entitling one person to authorise the sale of alcohol.

Anyone who gets their application in by tomorrow will be able to simply swap their current licence to the new format.

But those who don't will have to undergo a training course and apply from scratch for the new licence.

This is more expensive and also riskier than simply swapping the existing licence.

Anyone who gains the new qualification and has been police checked is entitled to a personal licence.

However, the council may still refuse their application for a premises licence for a number of reasons, including customer rowdiness and serving drinkers after hours.

Diana Milne