CAMRA comment on the extension of Welsh Retail Relief

In response to the annoucement that the Welsh Government is extending business rate relief, please find the below quote:

CAMRA’s Chief Campaigns and Communications Officer Tom Stainer said: “We are delighted that the Welsh Government is extending business rate relief, which will benefit pubs that have been hit hard by increases in their rates bills since the last revaluation. This will help ease the growing tax burden on pubs.

However, pubs in Wales remain threatened by developers exploiting loopholes in the planning system, meaning pubs can be demolished or converted to other uses without planning permission. This denies the local people a chance to object when a valued community pub comes under threat.

That is why we are calling on the Welsh Government to announce better planning protection for pubs as part of their review of the Use Classes Order.”