DEVIZES Town Council is considering licensing the town hall. The town hall is not currently licensed and alcohol is allowed to be sold there when groups or the town council apply for occasional licenses for particular events.

However under the new licensing laws for venue operators there will be a restriction on the number of temporary event notices, the equivalent of occasional licenses, and the town council said that based on the previous year the number of groups wanting to hold such events would exceed the restriction.

Deputy town clerk, Simon Fisher, said the town council could apply to have the town hall licensed but that would involve a member of the town council staff becoming a personal licence holder, who would be responsible for all alcohol sold on the premises.

The personal licence holder would also be liable for other people's actions relating to alcohol sold on the premises.

Mr Fisher said alcohol could still be served at events providing no payment was made.

The committee decided to defer the matter to another meeting and invite an officer from Kennet District Council to attend and explain the new licensing rules, which will come into force in November.