LOCAL pubs could find themselves temporarily or permanently out of business when new licensing laws take effect this August, due to lack of awareness about how new legislation affects them.

The new licensing regime requires all pubs, clubs, bars, restaurants, theatres, cinemas and takeaways to apply to their local council to transfer existing licenses, regardless of when their current license expires and whether or not they intend to vary their opening hours.

The deadline for applications is 6 August.

Stroud District Council is expecting applications from a total of 480 premises but until now has received only five, a number which, according to SDC spokesman Dave Marshall, is a cause for concern.

Businesses that fail to apply for a license transfer before the August 6 deadline will lose their existing rights to trade and those found to be trading without a fresh license when the new regime goes live later in the year will face prosecution.

The Local Government Association has also warned that the current low rate of applications could lead to a last-minute rush, leaving local councils with an unmanageable number of applications to be processed at short notice, some of which may not be processed in time.

Application delays may in part be due to confusion over the application process itself, which according to John Carter, landlord of the Fox and Hounds pub, at Coaley, has been "a total mess." He said most licensees had found the whole process too bureaucratic.

Councillors from Stroud District and South Gloucestershire councils have said that they are planning initiatives to encourage more applications before August.

Application forms can be obtained by telephoning council offices or accessing council websites.