A national consumer organisation is marking the six-month anniversary of the demolition of a historic Staffordshire pub by calling on government ministers to commit to extra protections for pubs.
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) wants more enforcement powers for local councils in England to stop pubs being illegally converted or demolished – including the ability for councils to force demolished locals to be rebuilt brick by brick.
The Crooked House pub in Himley, South Staffordshire, caught fire in August last year and was demolished two days later.
Famous for its wonky appearance, the building was originally an 18th-century farmhouse before being converted into a pub in the 1830s. Groups have been set up to campaign for the pub to be rebuilt.
In England, changing the use of a pub or demolishing one requires planning permission – but figures compiled by CAMRA showed that last year up to a third of demolitions may be happening without the required planning permission.
Last week, CAMRA met with Levelling Up minister Lee Rowley MP to discuss protecting the nation’s pubs.
CAMRA National Chairman Nik Antona said: “Six months on, this national scandal rightly still angers people up and down the country. Our pubs are at the heart of community life across the UK and must be protected as a vital part of our social fabric.
“Local people deserve to have a chance, through the planning system, to save their local pub from demolition or conversion to another use. Where this is done illegally, it is vital that local authorities have the powers and resources to force buildings back into use as pubs – or for them to be rebuilt brick by brick if they have been knocked down.
“That’s why on this anniversary we are renewing calls for governments in Westminster, Cardiff and Edinburgh to commit to improving planning protection laws and to make sure local authority planning departments are equipped to stop pubs being illegally converted or demolished without permission. Otherwise, we risk seeing more beloved locals across the UK being illegally taken away from the communities they serve.”
