31-Mar-2006 Cumberland News - Pint and Stamp
CHEERS: Council chairman John Collier, centre, kicks off the Pub is the Hub scheme at the Horse and Farrier at Dacre
CUMBRIA'S village pubs are being offered grants of up to £25,000 to provide vital services such as a post office counter, shop or tourist information.
The Pub is the Hub scheme was launched this week by Cumbria County Council in an attempt to reverse the run-down of rural services.
Director John Longden said 400 Cumbrian pubs could qualify. He added: "Any pub in a community of under 3,000 people could be eligible for up to £25,000 to help them branch out and provide local services such as a post office, village shop or tourist facility.
"We're already talking to a range of pubs in Cumbria with a view to setting up facilities including an art gallery and tourist accommodation.
"Research shows that more than 70 per cent of villages no longer have a shop or post office. Pubs often provide the only meeting place."
PUB IS THE HUB: The Horse and Farrier was one of the first pubs in Cumbria to introduce a post office 10 years ago
County council chairman John Collier kicked off the scheme on Tuesday at the Horse and Farrier at Dacre near Penrith.
The pub was one of the first in Cumbria to introduce a post office 10 years ago.
Licensee Joanne Moutter has been running it for three years.
The grants will require match funding from the licensee or pub owner. Typical Pub-is-the-Hub schemes are likely to cost £10,000 to £15,000 but could be up to £50,000.
The average scheme is also likely to create two or three jobs and should bring extra custom into the pub as a spin off.
Councillor Tim Heslop, the council cabinet member responsible for economic well-being, said: "We're hoping to hear from rural licensees or parish communities if they believe they have the potential for other services in their pubs, be it shops, post offices, internet cafes or any innovative business idea.
"We've been concerned for some time about the decline of traditional services in rural communities."
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