CAMRA has welcomed the announcement that the new Welsh government’s first phase of legislation will include “the development of a community right-to-buy scheme”.
First minister Rhun ap Iorwerth announced in the Senedd yesterday that the new Community Right to Buy will enable eligible community groups to nominate and register valuable community assets and be given the right of first refusal when the owner decides to sell, in order to make sure these places remain in the hands of communities.
A similar right in England has recently been passed by the UK parliament and will allow community groups to have first refusal on buying a pub registered as an Asset of Community Value if it is put up for sale.
Director of CAMRA Wales Chris Charters (above) said: “The announcement of a Community Right to Buy could 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 to buy it, so they have a fighting chance to save their local as a community-owned pub.
“At the moment this is really difficult for communities in Wales to save their pub and take it on as a community business because pub protection laws are the weakest anywhere in the UK.
“As well as a right to buy the pub as a community asset, CAMRA wants to see the Welsh government offer funding for community groups to take over their local. Ministers should also change the law so planning permission is always required to convert a pub in Wales into a restaurant, shop or takeaway, or demolished to make way for housing. This will help to stop greedy developers depriving a community of their pub against the wishes of local people.”
