DRINKERS could still face a dry Christmas as pub bosses continue to drag their feet over new license applications.
Last week the Citizen reported how just 48 appl-ications had been received by Lancaster City Council out of an anticipated 850.
In the last seven days just 19 more have landed on the desk of licensing chief Andrew Bartlett - and he says the situation is now getting desperate.
"I expected to be snowed under with applications but we have only received 67 and time is running out," says Mr Bartlett.
"I cannot understand why the applications are not coming in because at the end of the day it is people's livelihood. Maybe they do not realise how serious the situation is."
Pubs have until midnight on August 6 to apply - and if they miss the deadline they will not have a license by the end of November.
"I don't know what else to say. Perhaps drinkers should start a campaign to get their landlords to apply," adds Mr Bartlett.
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