Councils will today be invited to opt in to a radical new law, which would help safeguard local amenities such as pubs.
Hazel Blears, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, will ask councils to opt in to the Sustainable Communities Act — a Private Members Bill, which became law last November.
The Act enables councils and their communities to get Government help to reverse the decline of services and amenities such as local pubs, post offices and bus services, as well as help dealing with fuel poverty, protecting the environment and obtaining greater involvement in civic activity.
The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) is leading a national coalition of organisations, ranging from the Association of Chief Police Officers to the Womens' Institute, who have written to the leaders and chief executives of every council in England, asking them to seize the opportunity.
"The Sustainable Communities Act could not have come at a more crucial time," said Camra chief executive Mike Benner. "The global economic downturn will hit pubs and brewers hard and also have a huge impact on our local communities. Local high streets are likely to be decimated as outlets are forced to close.
"Camra has brought together a huge coalition of very diverse citizen organisations who all want one thing — thriving and prosperous communities.
"If local communities are to weather this storm, they will need far more autonomy than they currently have. Local people are the experts on the problems of their areas and the solutions to them. Yet currently they are at the complete mercy of the global stock exchange. The Sustainable Communities Act will give real power to local people to protect and revive their areas."