Community Right to Buy could be gamechanger for saving local pubs: CAMRA

Responding to a speech by the Shadow Levelling Up Secretary Lisa Nandy’s speech in Darlington today, in which she announced that a future Labour Government would introduce a ‘community right to buy’ for local community assets in England, Chairman of CAMRA Nik Antona said:

“Giving communities in England a right in law to have first refusal on buying privately-owned community assets would be a gamechanger for people who want to save and take over the running of their local.

“Pubs are more than just businesses – they play a crucial role in building and maintaining cohesive communities. Where they are under threat of closure, conversion or demolition it is right that people are given first refusal on buying it so they have a fighting chance to save their local as a community-owned pub.

“Until the law is changed to provide for a community right to buy assets of value, a dedicated pub-saving fund and support scheme is needed from the Government to make sure local people are fully supported to save their pub if is under threat.”