I WISH to alert the public to the possibility that pubs in their area may be applying for longer opening hours.

The city council has now taken over the responsibility for licen-sing pubs and this means they need to apply to either continue or vary their existing licences by August 6.

As a member of the Licensing Act commit-tee I was dismayed to be contacted by a local who said that the notices about such applications may be so placed that people do not notice them - particularly if they are not aware that changes are a possibility.

I think it is vital that people who live near to pubs in residential areas should have the chance to object about such matters and shall be pressing for improvements to be made.

Meanwhile I would ask people to look out for such notices and, if they have concerns, to make them known to the Licensing Officer.

Cllr Catriona Stamp, Lancaster.