Newbury MP Richard Benyon has claimed government red tape has left Newbury and Crookham Golf Club with a £1,000 bill for a new drinks licence.

Pub and club licensing reforms came in earlier this year, and all premises hoping to serve alcohol must have their applications decided by West Berkshire Council by August 6. However, landlords are complaining that the extensive form-filling is even more complicated, and more than two thirds of applications have been rejected so far for not completing the paperwork correctly.

Mr Benyon said the new law could also threaten small shops and village halls who need a licence for occasional events.

D-day to save council jobs

West Berkshire Council is hoping to end uncertainty among staff as it negotiates its way out of its aborted outsourcing deal with private firm Amey. Up to 70 backroom jobs are thought to be at risk, but council officials are confident that Amey PLC will honour its side of the 10 year deal. Since Newbury.net first revealed that the contract would be scrapped, Conservatives have taken control of the council, with a pledge to cut tax rises while preserving service levels, and believe they will emerge well from the talks with Amey.

You must be joking

There will be smirks aplenty in Newbury next month as the town’s second comedy festival gets underway. Household names like Janet Street-Porter, Jenny Éclair, Jo Brand, Rich Hall, Dominic Holland, Jimmy Carr and Rob Deering are all confirmed to appear at various venues, from the Corn Exchange and New Greenham Arts to the library and Square Bar and Grill.

The week-long festival starts in three weeks.

http://www.newburycomedyfestival.com/

Small business gathering

Up and coming entrepreneurs from the Thames Valley will be descending on Newbury Racecourse tomorrow and Wednesday for the B2B Thames Valley Exhibition run by the Chamber of Commerce.

More than 130 providers of business advice and services will be there to promote themselves to up to 3,000 small businesspeople. Call 01753 870500 for more information.

Watermill for sale

Trustees of Newbury’s Watermill Theatre have to find £3m to pay off the owners to secure its future. Owners Jill Fraser and James Sargant are retiring, and want to sell the buildings to the charitable trust for £1.7m, with another £1.3m needed for refurbishment and expansion.

Trustees are now appealing to local donors to step forward to stop it being turned into a conference centre if property speculators snap it up.