A NEWPORT landlord has hit back at licensing bosses for failing to issue applications for new licenses after accusing pub bosses of not applying.

Last week the Argus reported that council licensing chiefs were concerned city landlords were leaving it too late to apply for new licences and could be forced to close as a result.

Under the new Licensing Act, which came into force in February, all watering holes must apply either to renew their current licence or to extend it by August 6.

At a council meeting last week it emerged that none of the city's more than 500 pubs and clubs had yet returned their forms.

At the time Stephen Davison, Newport council's head of public protection and environmental services, said if the applications were not properly processed by August 6 pubs might have to close down.

Now one Newport landlord claims that despite numerous requests for a new licence application, his form had still not arrived.

Dave Cantelo is licensee at The Centurion in Heather Road, St Julians. He said: "It's no surprise that they haven't received any applications - because the application forms aren't being sent out.

"I contacted the council five weeks ago and asked them to send me a form, and I've called then twice a week every week since, but still no luck." Mr Cantelo is planning to apply under the new 24-licensing laws to extend his opening hours on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

He said: "I want to get it done as soon as possible. We've been told it's a very complicated form and if mistakes are made I want to make sure there is enough time to put them right before the deadline.

"I don't want to be left without a licence and have to close down." A spokesman for Newport council said: "We received a request for the application forms and spoke to from Mr Cantelo on March 10 and sent out the documents to him the same day.

"We will be contacting him to see whether the documents have been delivered yet, if not, an officer will hand deliver another set."