19-Mar-2010
The Times - Buy local – and buy your local pub, says Labour
Hundreds of pubs doomed to closure could be rescued under Government proposals to help to fund “community buyouts”, promote local beers and cut planning red tape.
Ministers will announce today that they will match money raised by residents to buy the freeholds of ailing pubs and provide business support to help to set up post offices, shops and restaurants in the same premises. The move follows growing concern that almost 40 pubs are closing every week, costing the economy millions of pounds and thousands of jobs. Last year 2,365 pubs were forced to close, resulting in 24,000 job losses.
Many buildings were sold to developers after pub owners cut their losses and decided to sell up, leaving people with nowhere to go for a drink.
The proposals are to be announced today by John Healey, the Housing Minister. Councils will be given new powers through the planning system to intervene before a pub is demolished, allowing the local community to have a say in its future. The Government will also remove legal restrictions that can prevent the property from continuing as a pub when it is sold.
he new laws will also allow pubs to branch out into other commercial ventures by setting up restaurants, gift shops, post offices and bookshops without requiring planning approval from the council. In many cases they will also be able to play music without having a special licence. Initially, £3.3 million will be spent on a three-year pilot project. The programme will encourage residents to set up “community interest companies”, where they will own shares in the business.
Besides the grants, loans would also be provided by two voluntary bodies. The Plunkett Foundation, a charity that promotes social enterprise, will offer assistance and business advice will be given by the Pub is the Hub campaign, a support group for pubs initiated by the Prince of Wales in 2001.
The Government has also decided to back recommendations from the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee to relax “beer ties”, which currently require tenant landlords to buy beer only from pub companies. This means landlords would also be able to buy locally sourced “guest” ales, increasing choice and lowering prices.
Mike Benner, chief executive of Camra, the campaign for real ale, said that the plan could offer a lifeline to thousands of pubs.
“I am delighted that John Healey has listened to our calls to help stop pubs being demolished unnecessarily, to ban the anticompetitive practice of placing restrictive covenants on pubs to stop their future use as pubs, and for the industry to self-reform the beer tie,” he said.
In the News
21-Aug-2010
EDP 24 - Award-winning pub opens real ale shop
The owners of an historic pub have signalled the return of a village shop to a south Norfolk community after opening a real ale shop in a former tap room
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12-Aug-2010
BBC North East Wales - Villagers who run Llanarmon's Raven Inn take over the post office
Villagers are celebrating their first anniversary running the community pub - by taking over the post office.
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09-Aug-2010
Morning Advertiser - £4.3m community pubs fund axed
The Government has ditched its £3.3m support package for community pubs and a further £1m grant for the Pub is the Hub scheme as part of its cost-cutting programme.
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