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| Grieving family's red tape dismay | Grieving family's red tape dismay |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The widow of a pub landlord has been told she must apply for the licence again because she took more than a week to ask for its renewal after his death. | The widow of a pub landlord has been told she must apply for the licence again because she took more than a week to ask for its renewal after his death. |
| Sonia Hyland, 59, ran the Dyffryn Arms in Neath with her husband John, 64, who died of cancer three weeks ago. | Sonia Hyland, 59, ran the Dyffryn Arms in Neath with her husband John, 64, who died of cancer three weeks ago. |
| Neath Port Talbot Council said her new application will take 28 days and in the meantime she cannot serve alcohol. | Neath Port Talbot Council said her new application will take 28 days and in the meantime she cannot serve alcohol. |
| The council said it was sympathetic but had no discretion. However, MP Peter Hain called it "shockingly offensive". | The council said it was sympathetic but had no discretion. However, MP Peter Hain called it "shockingly offensive". |
| Mr Hyland's family are still coming to terms with his sudden death, only three weeks after he was diagnosed with cancer. | Mr Hyland's family are still coming to terms with his sudden death, only three weeks after he was diagnosed with cancer. |
| He ran the pub with his wife for the past 18 years. Their daughter Victoria Keygan, 27, and her husband Mathew, 28, have been helping for the past two years. | He ran the pub with his wife for the past 18 years. Their daughter Victoria Keygan, 27, and her husband Mathew, 28, have been helping for the past two years. |
| But when the family tried have his licence transferred to his widow, they were told it had lapsed on his death and should have been reissued within seven days. | But when the family tried have his licence transferred to his widow, they were told it had lapsed on his death and should have been reissued within seven days. |
| I cannot believe the licensing laws have been applied in such a rigid and insensitive way Neath MP, Peter Hain | I cannot believe the licensing laws have been applied in such a rigid and insensitive way Neath MP, Peter Hain |
| The council said it had no discretion under the law to reinstate the licence to the family, so the premises are currently unlicensed. | The council said it had no discretion under the law to reinstate the licence to the family, so the premises are currently unlicensed. |
| The family are not allowed to sell alcohol until a new licence is issued, which will take 28 days, provided there are no objections. | The family are not allowed to sell alcohol until a new licence is issued, which will take 28 days, provided there are no objections. |
| In the meantime, the family have applied for three-day temporary licences over a couple of weekends to tide them over until a full licence can begin on 1 May. | In the meantime, the family have applied for three-day temporary licences over a couple of weekends to tide them over until a full licence can begin on 1 May. |
| Mrs Keygan said their grief had been compounded by having to worry for their livelihoods due to red tape. | Mrs Keygan said their grief had been compounded by having to worry for their livelihoods due to red tape. |
| She said: "We were trying to deal with our loss and now this comes on top. It's completely unnecessary. | She said: "We were trying to deal with our loss and now this comes on top. It's completely unnecessary. |
| "I think they've taken the view the everything is black and white - there is no grey area. | "I think they've taken the view the everything is black and white - there is no grey area. |
| Victoria and Matthew Keygan are still coming to terms with the bereavement | Victoria and Matthew Keygan are still coming to terms with the bereavement |
| "Although they say they're being sympathetic, I fail to see where. | "Although they say they're being sympathetic, I fail to see where. |
| "We had to go to the council officers yesterday morning and copy an application my dad had written out. It was in his hand writing. It was very distressing." | "We had to go to the council officers yesterday morning and copy an application my dad had written out. It was in his hand writing. It was very distressing." |
| Neath MP and former Welsh Secretary Peter Hain said it was an "absolutely shockingly offensive bureaucratic nightmare". | Neath MP and former Welsh Secretary Peter Hain said it was an "absolutely shockingly offensive bureaucratic nightmare". |
| He said: "I cannot believe the licensing laws have been applied in such a rigid and insensitive way." | He said: "I cannot believe the licensing laws have been applied in such a rigid and insensitive way." |
| 'No discretion' | 'No discretion' |
| In a statement, Neath Council said: "Whilst the authority is very sympathetic to the situation that the family now find themselves in, it is bound by the requirements of the legislation, and there is no discretion available to the authority in this matter. | In a statement, Neath Council said: "Whilst the authority is very sympathetic to the situation that the family now find themselves in, it is bound by the requirements of the legislation, and there is no discretion available to the authority in this matter. |
| "The licensing section has however endeavoured to minimise the impact on the family by providing guidance and assistance to allow them to operate legally albeit on a restricted basis until such time as a new licence is obtained." | "The licensing section has however endeavoured to minimise the impact on the family by providing guidance and assistance to allow them to operate legally albeit on a restricted basis until such time as a new licence is obtained." |
| A spokesman for the Welsh Tories said the council should look again at the family's application and "commonsense should apply". | A spokesman for the Welsh Tories said the council should look again at the family's application and "commonsense should apply". |
| He said: "I can't imagine that the licence application was the first thing on their minds following their bereavement. I'm sure it was the last." | He said: "I can't imagine that the licence application was the first thing on their minds following their bereavement. I'm sure it was the last." |
| The Welsh Liberal Democrats said the family were "victims of excessive bureaucracy". | The Welsh Liberal Democrats said the family were "victims of excessive bureaucracy". |
| A spokesman said: "I would hope the council has some discretion and is able to assist the family to ensure they don't lose their livelihoods while the new licence is issued." | A spokesman said: "I would hope the council has some discretion and is able to assist the family to ensure they don't lose their livelihoods while the new licence is issued." |
| Plaid Cymru's South West Wales AM Bethan Jenkins, said: "If the council has abided by the law then the law needs changing. | |
| "Councils should be able to take such circumstances into consideration when making decisions of this sort." |