While the licensing sub-committee of Malvern Hills District Council has granted the Nags Head application to extend its licensing hours, that is not the end of the story.

Mr Ironmonger will now have a greater responsibility to ensure he runs a good house and controls any possible rowdy behaviour, both in and outside his establishment. If significant problems arise and justifiable complaints are made, by local residents or the responsible authorities, we have the power to call the licence in for review.

These powers will apply to all licensed premises after November 24, so all landlords will have to take measures to protect their licence, or run the risk of having it seriously curtailed.

Many licensed premises have applied to extend their hours and add on regulated entertainment, and we have not received any objections.

I would like it well known that unless we receive suitable objections from either the responsible authorities (police etc) or interested parties (local residents, ward councillors) we have to grant the application as per the licensing act and the applications do not have to go to the licensing committee.

It is a condition of the act that the applicant, if they are seeking changes to their existing licences, advertise the changes they have applied for in the public notices of a local newspaper and display an A4 blue notice in a prominent position on the premises listing the changes applied for and how to make an objection.

The new licensing act makes no provision compelling the local licensing authority to write to interested parties advising them that an application has been received.

I urge the public to at least keep a look out for the blue notices, because if we receive no objections, we, your elected councillors, can take no action and the applications will have to be granted.

Coun D Houghton-Smith (chairman of licensing), Elgar Avenue, Malvern.