MORE than 50 delegates from sports clubs and associations around York have heard details of the controversial new Licensing Act 2003 that looks set to hit them hard in the pocket.

York District Sports Federation sponsored a seminar on the new licensing arrangements for sports clubs, which was held at the York Railway Institute and featured an address by Robin Rawson, City of York licensing officer.

The seminar followed the article in the Evening Press last month which explained how a planned hike in licensing fees as part of new licensing reforms is likely to see sports clubs having to shell out almost 50 times the amount at present.

Rawson explained the Licensing Act 2003 automatically terminates existing licensing certificates for registered clubs.

New licences will not be of limited duration but fees will be dramatically higher. Currently a five-year licence costs about £15 but, in the future, it will cost about £125 to register and a similar sum for annual renewal - an increase in costs that will hit some clubs hard.

Applications for licences under the new Act can be applied for from February 7 next year and must be in place by the following November. Two months should be allowed for the full registration process to be completed.

Many of the features applying to the operation and membership of clubs will remain and an automatic transfer facility will exist, known as Gradfathering rights.

However, clubs will be able to apply to vary their terms of operation if, for instance, they want to take advantage of more flexible opening hours offered under the reforms.

This will require the variations to be advertised and approved by the Police and the council.

Updated: 09:15 Saturday, December 18, 2004