Report targeting suffering pub market is just 'tip of the iceberg'
The Countryside Agency has launched a major new initiative aimed at saving rural pubs.
The move follows the release of a report last week highlighting the continuing drop in the number of rural outlets, with more than half of all settlements now without a pub.
The Countryside Agency said the report, Rural Services 2000, was the "tip of the iceberg" and revealed that plans were under way for a major new project to help target government grants at the suffering rural pub market.
The first stage of the new initiative is already under way and involves gathering detailed information on each village pub, including information on its customer base, who owns it and what services it provides.
This information will then be used to offer help, in the form of grants already available through the Countryside Agency, to struggling licensees.
The initiative is part of the Government's efforts to help boost tourism, which has fallen because of foot-and-mouth disease and the threat of terrorism.
The news represents a victory for the trade, which has fought for many years for rural pubs to be given the same status as village shops and post offices.
The Countryside Agency's project demonstrates that they are now viewed as vital village services that are under threat.
Carol Somper, senior research officer at the Countryside Agency, said: "We know from the reports we have received from parish councils that pubs are really important for a range of community activities.
"We are now researching to enable us to target grants and aid at those pubs that need it. Certainly in some areas passing trade has fallen off and there has been a change in leisure behaviour and that is having an effect on the village pub."
John Grogan MP, panel chairman for the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, said: "I think this is the first time a government agency has sought to adopt such a targeted approach to making sure rural pubs are given help to stay open. With foot-and-mouth and the drop in tourism, rural pubs in particular are suffering."
The move follows a campaign led by the beer group and The Publican Newspaper last year, lobbying ministers to grant a mandatory 50 per cent reduction in rates to village pubs.
The Government agreed earlier this year to extend an existing rate relief scheme to pubs in single-pub villages with a population of less than 3,000.
Tony Payne, chief executive of the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations (FLVA), said he hoped the Countryside Agency initiative would help extend the number of pubs that are eligible.
The FLVA has already been in contact with the agency over plans to fund computers in pubs to improve village services. Mr Payne said: "We are pleased that the agency is looking at it. The system needs sorting out so that all rural pubs are eligible for rate relief and other grants."
The Countryside Agency Rural Services 2000 Report found:
- 52 per cent of settlements had no pub
- most rural community councils reported a decline in the number of rural pubs
- village pubs had been hit by drink-drive laws, home entertainment and migration to the cities
- some rural outlets were in financial difficulties because they did not qualify for rate relief.