Council plan to save pubs

Oldham Council will be asked to agree on recommendations to protect local pubs by promoting them as community hubs.

Last year a cross-party working group examined how the local authority could protect against the ever-increasing run of pub closures. Five recommendations will be discussed by the council’s inner cabinet on Monday.

They include urging the Government to close a loophole that allows public houses and community assets to be converted or demolished without planning permission, writing to the three local MPs urging them to sign Early Day Motions condemning the conversion of pub sites, exploring opportunities to support micro-breweries.

They will also discuss using redundant public houses to create employment opportunities as part of the Get Oldham Working initiative, promoting the Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA) “List your Local” campaign, and agreeing the number of pubs to be listed as community assets under the campaign.

In addition they will work with partners to develop a local list of assets of community value — buildings of historical or architectural interest but without statutory heritage listing.

Councillor Jean Stretton, Cabinet member for co-operatives and neighbourhoods, said: “Well run pubs play an invaluable role at the heart of local communities. Since 2008 more than 30 pubs have closed in Oldham. We want to ensure public houses stay open and are protected from being turned into shops and flats, which is happening on a large scale across the country.”