Professional Representation at a Hearing
Have you received representations to your premises licence application?
Several years ago, Objectors (aka Representors) would have to physically write in to complain. Councils have since adopted a habit of publishing an email address to which to send these objections which could be a factor, along with the lack of any warning to the Representor that they will be required to attend the Hearing in person – thus denying any keyboard warrior the protection of comparative anonymity. Consequently we attend numerous Hearings up and down the UK, at our client’s expense, where the objectors simply do not turn up. Thus we are able to knock down many spurious arguments in the absence of the Representors, but it does cost you – the customer – money.
Some of the answer may lie in your own engagement with potential objectors. If you hear that people are against your application, then please engage with them. Even give them a full copy of your application so that they see that many of their worries are already addressed and their anticipated problems designed out.
If you are facing a contested Hearing, even when you did not use The Licensing Guys to make your original application or may have done it yourself, do not despair. Call us and we can advise you on the best way forward. Please do not leave it until after the Hearing and you have lost, as Appeals to the Magistrates Court are notoriously expensive and take many months to resolve due to the current Courts backlog.
Instead, call us immediately. We will review your chances of countering the aspersions and allegations made against your application, and advise you of the best way forward. We advise and/or take cases even where we have not submitted the original application, and are pleased to assist.
You can obtain free advice from us on 01432 700024 or email us the casepapers.
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