ALMR's leased pubs worry

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) is calling on pubs minister Bob Neill to ensure leased pubs are not penalised under the Government's Community Right to Buy scheme.

The ALMR has raised concern that "assignments" are included in the Localism Bill, which offers communities the chance to bid to take over assets that are important to them, such as pubs.

Community groups would be able to nominate an asset to be listed with the local authority, and would then have a window of opportunity to organise a bid if the asset was to be sold.

However, the ALMR is calling for the Government to ensure the national guidance, which provides guidelines for local authorities on implementation, will ensure pubs are able to re-assign leases to new licensees.

A consultation on the guidelines ended on 3 May.

ALMR strategy director Kate Nicholls said: "We have raised concern about the fact that assignments are included in it.

"It could introduce an 18-month delay into the process of assigning a pub.

"We have been trying to make sure we have got the views of licensees put forward on this.

"We are trying to raise this issue with the pubs minister.

"I am hopeful that the Government will listen because it is particularly sensitive on this issue."

Recently the British Property Federation (BPF) claimed that the Community Right to Buy scheme will do little to save local services from closure.

The BPF said that the consultation document revealed communities will only be able to list the building and not the service that operates from within it.