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.
While I can see the merits in the scheme for villages or small towns that have only one pub, I would not be chuffed if I owned a pub and I had managed to see off my local competition to find it was re-opened with the aid of public money!
Mind you, I wouldn't raise my hopes too high. Labour seem to be bringing out one policy per day at the moment. Already flagged and kicked into the the long grass this week were the PET IN SURANCE SCHEME and the SEPERATE SLOPS BUCKET! It's amazing how quickly you can come up with policy despite being in power for 13 years when there is an election to CONCENTRATE YOUR MIND!
10 comments:
Plus it's only £50 million quid. Not enough to make any difference. They know why pubs are shutting down but can't admit it because they have caused it. The smoking ban. And partly their incompetent managing of pub owners. Allowing chains like punch taverns to dictate prices to tied landlords.
Oh and before you blame cheap supermarket drink DL don't forget that there has always been cheap supermarket drink. The sudden rise in pub closures is due to the smoking ban.
Oh and drink is half the price on the continent but there's never any trouble. This is because the police aren't allowed to do anything with drunks and thugs in the UK nowadays apart from give them a lift home or a caution. Or if they're really naughty maybe a fixed fine that will never be paid.
Several such local buy-outs have been successful but can you imagine the hoops and hurdles of compliance, equality and gender awareness that would go hand in hand with such a scheme tied to Government money?
As hobbyhorse says above, the main problem is the smoking ban but since dippy Dave and his soppy pals regard that as a done deal they can fuck off too.
Hobbies, I know it's the smoking ban which is mostly to blame. I have been a smoker and if the Doc ever tells me I've got 3 months to live I will be again. But in saying that, as a non smoker pubs are much more pleasant places now. I was in the pub tonight and formerly I would have streaming eyes, a tight chest, (and I have heart problems) and smell like an ashtray. To be honest with you, I would not go back to that. If they brought smoking back I would not go near a pub, which is a shame because I enjoy the banter, same as I do on here.
Banned, getting such a scheme up and running must be a huge logistical nightmare. Smoking ain't going to come back, so move on.
Glad you're out and about DL.
I agree that pubs are much more pleasant but I think there should have been smoking and non smoking pubs. Leave it up to the owners to decide as they pay all the rates. Our local was non smoking a year before the ban came in and it was just as busy as the smoking pubs further up the street.
O/T have you see the Sunday Times yet ?
4 Labour Hoons on the make again. Including head hoon, Geoff Hoon ( shocked - not)
Hobbies, I could go for that. I haven't seen the Times yet. I'll have a shufty in the morning. Dead tired and a wee bit pished. I have to get to bed!
DL, we are not asking for repeal of the smoking ban. Just the opportunity to have some places where we smokers can smoke to which you don't have to go. Just as in the rest of Europe.
Banned, I think that's only fair, but I think you overestimate the number of people who will actually use it. There would be lots of smokers with partners or friends who wouldn't want to go back to a smoking pub. I can't thing of anyone in my immediate social circle who still smoke. I think up here 99% of smokers would say that if they want to go to a pub then they should go outside to smoke, but we've had the ban longer than you. Most people up here don't even smoke in their own house now but would go outside for a smoke or smoke out a window. I would say the more militant people now are the non smokers who would tell smokers to fuck off outside if they want a smoke. On occassion I've had someone in my house asking if it's ok to smoke and I'm afraid my answer is no. I don't smoke and I don't want either my house or me stinking of fags or for that matter my lungs fouled by someone else's smoke. I speak as a ex-smoker remember who fucking enjoyed a smoke and as I said earlier, if the doctor told me I had cancer and had three months to live, I would be a smoker again!
Fine, let the market decide. I dare you.
(not hostile, just a bit pished).
But, btw, who the fuck confused a smoking ban in public places with smoking in your house which you have never, EVER, invited me to anyway?
Banned, if you wnated to smoke in my house that would be OK. I might even let you shag the wife as well. No, maybe that's taking blogging friendship too far!
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