Author: Andy Cullen

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, is pressing the Government to act now to help save pubs in light of the latest CGA-CAMRA Pub Tracker, which shows that the number of net pub closures in the UK remains high at 29 per week – almost twice the number of pub closures in 2011^[1]. These figures coincide with a new clause to the Infrastructure Bill^[2] in England, tabled this week by a cross-party group of MPs, which would mean that planning permission is always required before demolishing or converting a pub into a supermarket convenience store or other retail use. Tim Page, CAMRA Chief Executive says: “It is currently possible to convert a pub into a betting shop, pay-day loan store or supermarket without the need for planning permission, making it far too easy for pubs valued by the community to be lost without local people having a say. Given the huge contribution that pubs make to community life in Britain we believe this cannot be right.” “The clause tabled by Charlotte Leslie MP is a fantastic opportunity to get the Government to take swift action to close these planning loopholes. We urge every MP who supports local communities and local pubs to get behind this clause and help secure a better future for the great British pub industry. We hope that we can rally support from sufficient MPs to persuade Ministers to reconsider their current refusal to provide effective planning protection for viable and valued pubs.” This attempt to amend the Infrastructure Bill is a huge step forward for CAMRA’s Pubs Matter campaign, which calls on the Government to make a simple change to the law in England so that a planning application is required before a pub is demolished or converted into another use. This change would give pubs the same protection that exists for sites such as theatres, scrap yards and nightclubs. It would also give communities the chance to have a say when their local pub is under threat. The campaign has so far secured the support of nearly 100 MPs for an Early Day Motion on pub demolition and change of use^[3]. CAMRA is calling on all MPs to support the clause and make the changes necessary to support local pubs across the country. Charlotte Leslie MP for Bristol North West says: “We urgently need a change to the law to protect pubs like The Bourne End in Brentry in my constituency from being simply demolished, or turned into a supermarket before the community has had the ability to have its say. Of course there will be some pubs that simply are not viable, but we must reset the balance in favour of the community, not the big developers.” About Pubs Matter

• Pubs support over 1 million UK jobs and inject an average of £80,000 into their local economy each year.
• Research by CAMRA found that 2 pubs are converted to supermarkets every week
• 69% of pub-goers believe that a well-run community pub is as important to community life as a post office, local shop or community centre.**
• 75% of all adults believe that pubs make a valuable contribution to life in Britain.***
• 96 MPs have already signed a Parliamentary Early Day Motion in support of closing the planning loopholes. http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2014-15/208

For further information on the Pubs Matter campaign or to submit your campaign as a case study visit www.pubsmatter.org.uk

600 pubs now listed as Assets of Community Value in England – but campaigners say Government are letting communities down by allowing conversion of pubs to supermarkets without planning permission

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, have today announced reaching 600 pubs listed as Assets of Community Value, following a campaign to encourage local groups to register pubs as ACVs. However CAMRA say with 31 pubs still closing per week more needs to be done to protect pubs – with the Government letting communities down by allowing conversion of pubs to supermarkets without planning permission. “The Government introduced Assets of Community Value to help communities retain valued community assets such as pubs by providing an opportunity to bid for the property if the owner intends to sell. But the scheme is undermined by rules that allow pubs to be converted into supermarket convenience stores and a wide range of other retail uses, without any need for a planning application.” Tom Stainer, CAMRA Head of Communications. Evidence collated by CAMRA earlier this year revealed that 2 pubs a week are converted into supermarket convenience stores, which led to the launch of their ‘Pubs Matter’ campaign which asks the Government to close the current loopholes and ensure planning permission is always required to convert a pub to other uses. “The fact pubs are the most listed community asset shows just how much people value their local pub. It is therefore hugely disappointing that the Government won’t act to close planning loopholes which allow developers to convert pubs to other uses without the requirement for planning permission.” “Planning permission is required to convert a convenience store into a pub but no permission is required to convert a pub into a convenience store. The lack of protection for pubs is a glaring anomaly in the English planning system which needs to be corrected. It is surely not right that a supermarket convenience store is given greater planning protection than a valued community pub.” CAMRA’s Head of Communications, Tom Stainer added “Local people are denied a say in the future of their own communities, and this is undermining the Government’s stated aim to empower local communities to protect local facilities such as pubs.  Government Ministers are giving communities false hope by suggesting that listing a pub as an Asset of Community Value is the solution to gaps in the planning system when they are clearly not.”

Key Campaign:   Stop Tax Killing Beer & Pubs Ahead of the Chancellor’s Budget announcement on 18 March we   have been working hard to try and secure a historic third consecutive cut in   beer duty. To put forward the case we commissioned a report from the Centre for Economic   and Business Research (Cebr) which highlights the benefits of two consecutive   beer duty cuts and how they have benefitted beer drinkers and pub-goers. We   are launching the report on Monday, 23 February. We urge all   members to write to their MPs ahead of the announcement to ensure this year   is yet another success for beer drinkers.

 

Key Campaign:   Secure an Effective Government Support Package for Pubs We continue to put pressure on the Government to strengthen   planning laws in England to protect pubs from being demolished or converted   without a say from the community. Last month, almost 4,000 members lobbied   their local MPs to support an amendment to the Infrastructure Bill which   would close those planning loopholes. The Government has bowed to the mounting   pressure by promising urgent action to protect current and future pubs listed   as Assets of Community Value. These changes should come into effect before   the General Election. While we still want the Government to go further in protecting all pubs   through planning laws this is a great first step in the right direction. We   are now urging members to start listing their local pub as an Asset of   Community Value before they are under threat. For more   information on how to list your local please visit our campaigns page on the   CAMRA website or contact our   planning advisor Matt Brown by email.