Concern is continuing to grow over the current spate of late drinks applications submitted in the area following the introduction of new licensing legislation.
A large number of establishments have submitted proposals to Pembrokeshire County Council to vary their hours under the Licensing Act 2003 to extend their closing times to 2 am, or in some cases even later.
Although applicants are required to advertise their plans in the local press and display a notice outside their premises for 28 days, it appears that full details are only available following representation to the licensing department at County Hall, Haverfordwest.
The current lack of information has caused a wave of anger among concerned residents, who claim they are not being made aware of the full implications of some of the proposals.
And, as one local resident pointed out in a recent letter: "Alarmingly, the fine print in the Act means that any application failing to attract objections must go through."
We at the Observer have continued to receive letters about the matter, and in one this week, a reader expressed concern that a local nightclub had applied to extend its licensed hours to 4.30 am and remove restrictions on access of minors.
"I understand that the premises does not have to announce these variations to hours when notification is published prior to hearings," wrote the resident.
"It is only through an individual viewing of the application at County Hall that these hours became known.
"I strongly believe that only when people are in possession of the full details of applications can they make a decision as to how they will be affected and whether they wish to object.
"This new legislation does not seem to serve the community as well as it does the applicant." When contacted by the Observer to clarify the licensing procedure, Len Mullins, Pembrokeshire County Council's press and public relations officer, explained that the opening hours applied for were a matter for the licensee.
"Applications for changes in the licensing hours are advertised in the local press and in a notice which has to be displayed outside the premises in question for 28 days," said Mr. Mullins.
"General queries from the public on an application can be answered by speaking to a Pembrokeshire County Council licensing officer (tel. 01437 764551). More detailed queries may require an appointment with a licensing officer at County Hall, Haverfordwest."
Meanwhile, Pembrokeshire County Council's licensing sub-committee has already started what looks set to be the long and arduous process of determining the extensive list of applications before them.