Clubs count cost of Licensing Act
In The Daily Telegraph former UK sports minister Kate Hoey reveals that the Blair government’s obsession for creating red tape wherever possible now extends to club bars
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
In The Daily Telegraph former UK sports minister Kate Hoey reveals that the Blair government’s obsession for creating red tape wherever possible now extends to club bars. She quotes the example of Guildford in Surrey. Last year, their bar licence for the annual festival was £10.
“It now costs £906 for the cricket club to ensure that they can run a beer tent -something that has always operated in the past with no public nuisance problems. They must also have a designated premises supervisor, who holds an accredited licensing qualification, requiring an examination involving much time and commitment.”
As Hoey says, Guildford might be able to absorb the costs. Many smaller clubs won’t. Add into the mix a swathe of ridiculous forms for volunteers, scorers, umpires, and it is not hard to see why many people are giving up rather than submitting themselves to often unnecessary controls and checks.
Martin Williamson is executive editor of ESPNcricinfo and managing editor of ESPN Digital Media in Europe, the Middle East and Africa