A KARAOKE operator claims he and dozens of landlords could be put out of business if councillors follow a 40-year-old law which could silence the pubs of Blackburn and Darwen.

Nigel Ely has been running karaoke and discos in Blackburn for 11 years but says he could soon be out of a job if public entertainment licence laws are followed to the letter.

Every landlord in Blackburn has been sent notification that entertainment in their pubs is not allowed unless they have a public entertainment licence.

But only a small number of local pubs have a licence which can be costly to obtain as landlords have to find thousands of pounds to pay for rewiring and fireproofing in order to qualify.

Licensing committee councillors were meeting today to discuss the matter of the law and Nigel and other landlords and entertainers were going to the town hall to hear the decision.

Nigel of Stonehill Drive, Sunny Bower, said: "The public entertainment licence laws were written in 1964 when there was no such thing as karaoke or mobile discos. Since these letters have gone out, virtually everybody has stopped their entertainment as not many landlords are prepared to flout the law and risk prosecution. "Nowhere in this law does it mention karaoke or mobile discos. We are in the 21st century now. I don't see why landlords should have to pay for all the rewiring and fireproofing just to have entertainment when people are drinking in these establishments anyway."

A spokesman for Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council said neighbouring local authorities also interpret the law according to Home Office guidelines. Other authorities indicated that they enforce public entertainment legislation for karaoke.

She said: "We intend to continue to enforce the legislation in accordance with Home Office guidance but, in order to help publicans, last week's Public Protection Sub-Committee agreed to introduce a lower price licence for smaller premises to help reduce the financial burden on pubs holding karaoke.

"The council has listened to the publicans' concerns, but has to follow Home Office guidance in interpreting the legislation and uphold its obligations to the members of the public who go to pubs to ensure their safety is not jeopardised."

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