The fight for the future

"GHOST TOWN Britain."

"10 years to save the high street."

"Your local pub may soon be extinct."

If any of those newspaper headlines from recent months have struck a chord with you, read on.

No-one will need reminding of the gradual decline of the high street and local services - including pubs. But what you may not know is that pressure is growing for a new slab of legislation which could help reverse the trend. And it's a campaign which needs your help.

The Campaign for Real Ale, the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) and Pub is the Hub are among more than 80 national organisations which have ranked behind the Local Works campaign to help preserve local communities.

Originally set up by independent think-tank the New Economics Foundation, the initiative is being run by some seasoned political campaigners. The campaign is lobbying hard for the introduction of the Sustainable Communities Bill, a possible piece of legislation put forward by Liberal Democrat shadow treasury secretary and MP for Falmouth and Cambourne in Cornwall, Julia Goldsworthy, earlier this year.

The campaign received the backing of Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell at the Lib Dem conference in Brighton last month.

The aim of the initiative is for it to be tabled as a Private Members' Bill in the House of Commons on November 23, when five MPs are given the chance to table their own legislation, and that it becomes law next year. But as the Lib Dem Conference proved, Local Works is already succeeding in putting the issue firmly on the political agenda.

Already there​

There's no doubt that in 2006 there is a growing sense that consumers want to buy local food and drink and support their local businesses - if they can.

Even Tesco - which, ironically, many would blame for the decline of the high street - has signaled its intention to open up its stores to local suppliers by opening regional buying offices nationwide and putting regional food counters into its stores.

Julia Goldsworthy was also one of the initial sponsors of a Commons motion backing the bill 12 months ago - a motion which, with 335 signatures on it, now has the support of more than half the House of Commons.

"There are many towns and villages in Cornwall whose community life is being threatened by the growth in second homes and out-of-town shopping centres. This bill would empower those communities to tackle the problems they face," the MP told The Publican.

"It could make a huge difference to small businesses - including pubs. I'm lucky enough to have three in the village in Cornwall where I live, and they serve a wide selection of local beers. For many people they are an important social focus for their community. Along with local shops and post offices, they play a vital role in sustaining communities."

The campaign organisers are pushing for more and more supporters to come forward and show their backing for the principles behind the bill. This will help ensure that it is taken up in the House of Commons in November.

Ron Bailey, who is leading the Local Works campaign, explains: "If you get more local economic activity then there's more money flying around the community - which means more jobs, more prosperity and people spending more money in the area.

"Suppose you have a pub which is closing down and there's an application for change of use. If the community gets together to save the pub, at the moment they may not have the time to get everything they need together.

"If this Bill is passed, the application for change of use could be delayed."

He also believes it will put pressure on pub companies to do more to ensure local beers find their way into local pubs.

David Drew, the Labour MP for Stroud, Gloucestershire, who is also backing the bill, believes it can make a difference at a local level.

"This is a good Bill which puts the emphasis back on local services and encourages people to think local first while getting government to put more resources and efforts into local communities," he says.

"I want to see as many small, local businesses supported as possible - including pubs. I visit pubs regularly, they play an active role in the creative and artistic life and generally make a very positive contribution to the area."

In conference​

SIBA is backing the campaign because it believes it will help more local beers find their way into local pubs. It already runs the successful Direct Delivery Scheme, which helps to do just that through the likes of Punch Taverns, Enterprise Inns and Admiral Taverns, and believes the Local Works crusade could strengthen the trend.

"There's already a consensus that the pub is the hub of the community," says SIBA director Nick Stafford. "What better support can the pub get than from its local brewer? It's got to be a priority for every brewer to help its local pub by providing it with quality beer, at a reasonable price and to support its fundraising efforts."

When a local pub has a charity night, he adds, why shouldn't the local brewer support it with a free barrel of beer?

"Perhaps this campaign will make the proponents of the beer tie think again about their arrangements for local traders."

All the more reason for some Publican readers to get behind it, perhaps.

What the Bill could mean to you​

If the bill becomes law it will set up a process where local communities will have more decision-making power over local issues, and the government will be required to help reverse 'Ghost Town Britain'.

The result, the theory goes, is that more prosperity would be kept in the local areas where it is made.

In addition, campaigners believe the bill would increase the pressure on pub companies to ensure that local beers continue to be made.

What you can do to help the Sustainable Communities Bill become law​

If enough MPs are aware of the strength of feeling about the Local Works campaign, there is more chance that the Bill will be tabled as a Private Members' Bill in November.

To sign up to the Local Works campaign visit www.localworks.org

To ensure that your MP is aware of the issues involved, write a letter to your MP - print off the word document to the right, sign it and send it to your MP.

For full details of your MP's name and address, visit www.upmystreet.com/commons/

The more supporters, the more chance it will become law.