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Shut pubs could be saved by community groups bidding for funding
The Government’s Community Ownership Fund can be used to help communities to save their local pub as a community asset.
Residents in Marcham are hoping they will be able to run The Crown in the village after it was put up for sale for £425,000 earlier this year.
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A steering group in the village has applied to make the Packhorse Lane pub an ‘Asset of Community Value’.
Dave Richardson, of the Oxford branch of real ale group CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale), said he hoped the new round of government funding would encourage community groups across the county to attempt to take over and run closed pubs.
He added: “It’s a new tranche of funding to reopen community businesses which could include pubs.”
CAMRA chairman Nik Antona added: “It is really encouraging to see Levelling Up Ministers announcing today that another round of funding is being made available through the Government’s Community Ownership Fund.
“This funding is a lifeline for local people who have come together to save their local pub and keep it at the heart of community life.
“I hope that as many communities as possible that are looking to save their local pub submit bids for funding.
Anyone interested in saving their local pub can find in-depth guides with all the tools campaigners need on CAMRA’s website – www.camra.org.uk/saveyourlocal.”
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While CAMRA has welcomed the new round of funding it is opposed to a change in planning regulations which it says could lead to more pubs being lost.
CAMRA members are writing to their MPs, letting them know that government proposals for High Street Rental Auctions should not go ahead in their current format, and asking MPs to take action.
CAMRA won landmark protection for pubs just five years ago, with the removal of permitted development rights that had let developers convert or demolish pubs without giving communities their say through the planning process.
High Street Rental Auction proposals are currently under consultation with the aim of rejuvenating highstreets by letting councils auction leases for a range of vacant property types.
But according to CAMRA these proposals will reintroduce permitted development rights that would see pubs converted, divided up into multiple units, or gutted of fittings without the need for planning permission.
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Other closed pubs highlighted by Oxford CAMRA include The Crown at Stadhampton, The White Hart in Wytham, The Blacks Head Inn at Bletchingdon and the Bat & Ball at Cuddesdon.
The Blacks Head Inn closed suddenly in January due to the cost of living crisis.
The pub’s Facebook page said: “”We are so sad to be moving on but the cost of living has made it impossible to stay open.”
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About the author
Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here.
He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.
His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning.
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