17- April-2008 Morning Advertiser - Pub is the Hub targets East Anglia
Pub is the Hub has earmarked East Anglia as its next target area as enquiries from licensees across the region begin to mount.
The rural regeneration group says requests for help have escalated since the post office closure programme began to take effect.
Hub director John Longden (pictured) revealed pubs were now seeking advice on ways to take on post office and village-shop facilities.
“There has been a marked upturn in enquiries and requests for help from East Anglia since the post offices began to close their doors".
“Many rural communities have been left without services of any sort and are turning to local pubs to fill the gap,” he said.
The new East Anglia region could be up and running by mid-summer following pledges of financial support from local brewers and pub operators.
Only Gloucestershire, Somerset and the West Midlands remain without any Hub representation.
Longden said financial support remained the Hub’s biggest problem. “Our income is currently running at the same level as last year, but with an increasing workload it is always a struggle to get the finance to meet extra demands,” he said.
The Hub is currently preparing a submission to the Government through Secretary of State for Rural Affairs Hilary Benn, who expressed support for the Hub’s work when he visited a Cumbrian Pub is the Hub scheme with Prince Charles, President of Business in the Community, last month.