A LETTER has been sent to every licensee in Blackburn and Darwen, informing them that providing just about every form of valid entertainment on their premises without a public entertainment licence is illegal.

By valid forms of entertainment, I mean the usual pub fare - karaoke, singers/musicians using backing music or any music with dancing, which would include strippers etc.

To obtain this licence a small local pub must spend hundreds, perhaps thousands of pounds in meeting health and safety regulations.

Present government legislation is sound and sensible and is there for the safety of people using public premises.

It has also been quite adequate for the last 20 years or so and makes no mention of entertainers using pre-recorded music etc. unless there are more than two entertainers, which has always been accepted.

I believe, along with many other people, that the local council is totally disregarding the Government guidelines on health and safety and is interpreting the regulations in a petty and vindictive manner.

Many local pubs rely on their weekly entertainment to attract custom and many entertainers rely on their local pub to make a living. It goes without saying, that, by the same token, people like some kind of music or live attraction while enjoying a drink down the pub.

If anyone reading this letter agrees with me, then please approach your local councillor and make your views known in the strongest possible terms.

KEVIN B ELVEY, Sudell Road, Darwen.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.