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Light Bitters – A
Really Refreshing Change!
Following on from the Mild in May
campaign, CAMRA’s Light and Dark Supporters (LADS) group
is encouraging pubs and beer festivals to support Light
Bitters - our most endangered beer style - throughout
this summer.
Arkells: 2B (3.2%) For details of our Cider and Mild Campaigning - please use the menu on the left to access the specific pages
Campaigning Update - Local Plans In previous articles we have covered the Local Plans been drawn up by Chesterfield Borough Council, NEDDC and Derbyshire Dales District Council. Bolsover District Council also fall within the Chesterfield & District CAMRA branch area, and their Local Plan was agreed as far back as 2000. As a brief recap, each Local Authority is obliged to produce a Local Plan and, amongst other things, this states the local planning policy to be followed where a planning application affects community facilities, such as pubs. Indeed the Bolsover Local Plan is an excellent model for others to follow. In 1997 the district council won an appeal against closure of the Appletree Inn in Stanfree from conversion to a residential nursing home. The reason for refusal was the important role played by the public house in community life, together with the level of opposition from the local community fearful of losing such a venue. Subsequently the currently adopted Bolsover District Local Plan (February 2000) includes a policy that seeks to protect public houses and other community facilities, from alternative development. The Plan states that: Planning permission will only be granted for the change of use or redevelopment of buildings which have functions serving the community, if: Either 1) Appropriate alternative provision is made; Or 2) It can be demonstrated that the facility is no longer required, or no longer economically viable. Further protection comes from the fact that the applicant must produce hard facts to prove the second point. The covering explanation in the Plan also states that “In the case of businesses such as pubs and surgeries, the applicant will be required to demonstrate that all reasonable efforts have been made to sell or let the premises at a realistic price”. This provides valuable protection against viable pubs being converted into houses, simply for financial gain. The review of Bolsover’s Local Plan is currently taking place and a revised draft version will be published by May 2004. The Council has asked Chesterfield & District CAMRA to review and comment on their revised plan. There is also good news
on the pub closure front to report from the Peak. A
planning application to change the use of the Bull’s
Head at Wardlow to residential use was refused in
December 2003 by the Peak District National Park’s
Authority’s planning control committee. In a letter to
the Derbyshire Times, Councillor John Bull set out the
reasons for rejection and he also emphasised the
strength of local support for the committee’s decision.
Mr Bull stated that “Our general policy is to refuse
applications that would result in the loss of a service
to the local community. We believe that public houses
provide an important local service and are a focal point
for local communities. The Bull’s Head is the only pub
in Wardlow and its loss This approach validates CAMRA’s campaigning stance that the vast majority of pub closures are completely unnecessary. Fortunately pubs in the Bolsover and Peak Park District’s are much better protected that most. Jim McIntosh A Guide for Licensees CAMRA launched a new licensee initiative at the Pub & Bar show at London Olympia in the form of a new leaflet designed to develop the relationship CAMRA has with the pub trade and licensees. The new leaflet, ‘CAMRA: A Guide For Licensees’, highlights the different ways that CAMRA and the pub industry can work together to help boost the pub trade. Mike Benner, CAMRA’s Head of Campaigns said, "It is important that we increase our profile in the pub trade and this exhibition gives us the ideal opportunity to meet licensees and discuss the different ways we can work together to help increase pub trade. National Pubs Week is a prime example of how this can work successfully. Early feedback from some of the 15,000 licensees that took part is very encouraging with pubs reporting on increased pub attendance figures and receiving positive press coverage for the different events they put on throughout the week.” For more information,
contact Chesterfield and District CAMRA have also recently published its own “Licensees Guide”. This 4 page handout is available to all pubs within the Chesterfield Branch Area and is available from any Committee member - visit the Contact Us page. This webpage was last updated on Tuesday, 01 July 2008 |
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