Crowded pubs a worry for councils

LOCAL councils want more powers to shut down pubs that fail to comply with social-distancing guidelines after images of crowded venues shared on social media sparked outrage.

Many areas are wary the forecast heatwave this weekend will see drinkers trying to cram themselves into bars and beer gardens.

Current guidance says licensed premises should take customer details and ensure they have infection control measures in place, but these are still voluntary.

The Local Government Association (LGA) wants these guidelines to immediately be made mandatory, and wants local authorities to be given stronger powers to enforce them.

Currently local authorities have no specific powers to shut drinking establishments under the emergency Covid-19 regulations, and have to use the Health and Safety at Work Act to intervene.

The LGA, which represents councils in England and Wales, argues these laws are less specific and make it more difficult to take swift action.

It wants a temporary Covid-19 objective added to the Licensing Act, allowing councils to shut premises that fail to collect contact tracing data or enforce social distancing, or even revoke their licences.

Councils can use Covid-19 powers under the Health and Safety at Work Act to close pubs and bars, but only where there is already a “serious and imminent risk” to public health.

The LGA points out this only gives councils the power to shut venues linked to infections, or as it puts it, “once it is too late”.

Nesil Caliskan, chairman of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said: “It needs to be mandatory for premises to follow this government safety guidance and councils need the right powers to intervene and take action if necessary.”

She added: “While councils do not want to have to shut anywhere down, business owners need to know that councils have the power to act if local communities are put at risk.”

Yesterday, Manchester’s night-time economy adviser, Sacha Lord, said numerous premises had been trying to “squeeze” customers in despite the recent spike in cases.

“These venues clearly have a disregard for the safety of both their customers and their staff,” he said.