CAMRA calls for ACV protections to apply to all pubs

11-Apr-2016 - Last updated on 12-Apr-2016 at 08:18 GMT

The Campaign for Real Ale has called for planning protections given to assets of community value (ACV) to apply to all pubs, after latest figures showed 1,500 venues now hold the status.

ACVs give community groups six months to raise funds to purchase a pub if a developer plans to change the building’s use.

Blanket ACV

The latest figures show that almost 1,000 pubs have been given the status over the past year, boosted by a campaign in Aylesbury Vale and Wycombe which has seen 150 pubs listed as ACVs. CAMRA said this has resulted in not a single pub closure over the past 12 months.

Chairman of Aylesbury Vale & Wycombe CAMRA, Carl Griffin, said: “Pubs are at the centre of community life and what we want to do is, therefore, give local people a voice in the planning process and provide an opportunity for people to buy their local pub if it comes up for sale.”

CAMRA has ambitions to drive the scheme further, and wants to see 3,000 of the country’s pubs listed as ACVs by the end of this year. The group claims this will help stem the number of pub closures.

Save your local

CAMRA’s chief executive Tim Page said: “It’s clear there is strong support for pubs across the country and many passionate campaigners willing to come together to save their local. However, with 27 pubs closing every week there is still more work to be done. Many pubs are still under threat of demolition or being converted to another use by large developers.

“Registering a pub as an ACV is the first step to saving it from this fate. We would like to see more community groups come together to save their local and for the Government to extend planning permission protection to all pubs, regardless of ACV status.”

The blanket use of ACVs, however, has been criticised by some licensees, who have labelled it a “publicity stunt”.