THE new pub and club licensing system is in a complete muddle, according to the boss of Arkell's Brewery.

Just 17 of Swindon's 850 licensed premises have applied for licences under the new system, which sees responsibility shift from the courts to local councils.

There have been warnings that pubs will have to close if they do not apply soon but Swindon's licensing officer says the system must be made easier if the problem is to be overcome.

And James Arkell, managing director of Arkell's, says applying for new licences is costing his company more than £100,000.

"It is a complete and utter muddle on the paperwork side," he said. "It is costing us thousands of pounds and we don't believe it is in any way necessary.

"It is hugely bureaucratic. We are all struggling with it.

"It has taken them over a year and a half to get a set of rules then they expect the forms to be sent back straight away. It is very, very unreasonable."

Under the new system all pubs, clubs and off licences have to apply for a new licence from the council.

If they apply before August 5 they can swap their old licence for a new one but if they leave it longer they will have to make a full application before November to stay open.

But Lionel Starling, Swindon Council's senior licensing officer, said that date would probably have to be changed by the Government.

"That is looking more and more loony with the way things are," he said. "The idea that we are going to get all the licences issued by November is completely crazy. They are going to have to change that."

But he said pubs would not end up closing because of the situation, as the Local Government Association has warned.

"That is such a ludicrous scenario that it is not going to happen," he said. "Something will be sorted out to make sure it doesn't.

"The problem is if we delay the deadline people will think they don't have to do it yet. I think the answer is not changing the deadlines but simplifying the process."

Licences granted so far include one for the Litten Tree, which will now be able to serve alcohol from 8am until midnight in the week and until 2am at weekends. The pub can now open at unusual hours if there is a big sporting event.

But the only 24-hour application has been from Sainsbury's, which wants to be able to sell alcohol at all times from its Bridgemead store.

Swindon College is providing a free two-hour introduction to the new Licensing Act for people who own, manage or work in licensed premises.

The free two-hour courses run on various days until June 16. For more information contact Community Learning at Swindon College on 01793 498401. Anyone with queries about the new system can email the council's licensing officers at licensing@swindon.gov.uk

Isabel Field