It's your shout...

With the August 6 deadline fast approaching, fewer than three per cent of the town's watering holes have applied to transfer their existing alcohol licenses.

And licensing officials at the town hall fear the publicity surrounding 24-hour opening has created the mistaken belief that businesses who don't want to change their opening hours will be unaffected.

In fact, all licensed premises, including bars, restaurants, shops and cinemas, need to take action regardless of whether they want to change any conditions.

But, so far, Bournemouth council has received just 40 out of an anticipated 1,400 applications from licensed premises.

And the figures for personal licenses are even worse, with just 132 out of an expected 4,000 applications received.

Rob White, of the council's licensing team, said: "The consequence of not applying in time is serious - you may be unlicensed and not permitted to trade.

"We urge businesses not to wait until the last minute but to do something now.

"If there is a last-minute rush of applications, this will create unnecessary delays for everyone concerned."

The situation is no better elsewhere. Halfway to the August deadline, Poole had received just 12 premises licence applications and 35 personal applications.

And in Christchurch, three quarters of the borough's 160 licensed establishments have failed to convert their licenses.

With concerns growing, the Local Government Association has appealed to licensees to act quickly.

Cllr Bryony Rudkin, chair of the LGA's Safer Communities Board, said: "With just two-and-a-half months to go until the deadline, these figures reveal just how many businesses run the risk of losing their alcohol licence.

"The implications for local people and their town and city centres are potentially very serious indeed.

"Unless more applications start coming in soon, the pumps could be running dry in some areas this Christmas."

First published: May 23