Campaign to Save Local Pubs

New Campaign Campaigns

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  Protect small cider producers

  CAMRA fully supports the production and availability of real ciders and perries. In many cases the proposed action would make small scale cider production uneconomic. This is wholly disproportionate given that a small producer selling up to 33 pints a day has no capacity to affect EU trade to any meaningful degree. The case for rejecting the request by the EU to tax small cider producers: - Someone producing less than 70hl (12,000 pints) will generally be making less than £10,000 a year in sales. This means the tax exemption only applies to very small businesses, such as hobbyists or farm-gate producers. If a duty were to be levied on these producers it would make their operations uneconomic and lead to wide-spread closure. - 80% of Britain’s 500+ cider makers are currently small producers. A tax will severely impact on consumer choice and will cause irreparable damage to one of the nation’s most historic industries. - An exemption from this duty is essential to supporting the growth of a vibrant but still small cider and perry market. - A tax charge of up to £2,700 would drive many small cider producers out of business costing jobs, harming the countryside and dramatically reducing consumer choice.

  27,136 of 30,000 Signatures

  Created by Katie McKelliget
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  Stop the demolition of pubs without planning protection

  A historic pub in Kilburn which survived being bombed in the Second World War has been demolished by developers behind the backs of the local community. Developers ripped through the Carlton Tavern on Friday 10th April, despite being considered for statutory listing. Local Cllr Jan Prendergast from Westminster City Council said: “I'm horrified for the local residents that this has occurred. It came as such a shock to everyone. There was no prior warning to the council, no approvals and no proper health and safety procedures in place. “This was a lovely pub and I'm sorry to see it go, but I'm more concerned for the residents in Maida Vale for whom they showed no consideration whatsoever. It was the last building standing in Carlton vale after the WW2 bombings. “I've lived in the area for 35 years and have never seen anything like this before. We need to take very careful legal advice as to what steps we can take.” The demolition of the Carlton Tavern demonstrates how vulnerable communities are to speculative and aggressive development tactics. It also demonstrates a complete disregard towards the historic social infrastructure of Kilburn and the wider UK pub heritage stock. Local pubs are at the heart of our communities and allowing valued pubs such as the Carlton Tavern to be demolished in this way is ludicrous and is denying local residents a say in the future of their neighbourhoods. James Watson, Regional Pub Protection Advisor for the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) said: "Although we welcome the recent changes to planning law which came into effect on 6th April 2015, which afford some protection to ACV-registered pubs, the tragic case of the Carlton Tavern demonstrates just how vulnerable pubs are to rapacious development. We now urge the Government to take this case into consideration and amend planning law to ensure that such demolitions are prohibited unless planning permission is first obtained. This would ensure communities like Kilburn have a say in the future of their local pubs."

  1,703 of 2,000 Signatures

  Created by Faye Grima
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  Save The KPH from imminent closure

  As a cultural hub that has long served the local community and embraces all cultures around Ladbroke Grove, The KPH has been listed as Asset of Community Value by the local authority. However, we feel that more protection of this unique venue is required in order to safeguard it against closure and unsympathetic development. Situated in an area of high property value, developers have spent two years running an aggressive legal campaign to rid the venue of its current manager and redevelop it for sale to an estate agent. The case is particularly urgent due to a complication arising from a legal dispute between the current manager, Vince Power, and the freeholder, SWA Developments Ltd. If an appeal hearing on 17 March 2016 is decided in favour of the latter, The KPH faces immediate closure. https://player.vimeo.com/video/155539254?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0 The KPH has been a pub and entertainment venue for 150 years and is located on a busy junction on Ladbroke Grove. It borders on what used to be the slums of Notting Dale and North Kensington and is in walking distance of world-famous Portobello Road and the more affluent streets of Notting Hill and Holland Park. It has a colourful past of serving famous and notorious patrons, from John Christie to The Clash. Under its current management, The KPH has succeeded in attracting members of the area’s diverse social and ethnic backgrounds, warmly welcoming new arrivals as well as long-standing regulars from the Irish and West Indian communities. There are already too many examples of pubs closing in the area. Even if the facades are kept intact, conversions into supermarkets, estate agents and luxury flats have a lasting effect on the neighbourhood’s distinctive look and feel. This particular section of Ladbroke Grove has retained some significant original features and is in danger of irrevocably losing its distinctive character. The KPH is one of many pubs facing closure in the current climate of aggressive property development. According to CAMRA statistics, 29 pubs are closed every week across the UK. Music venues face a similar fate, and the Music Venue trust is at the core of a campaigne to protect grassroots music venues like The KPH. Unfortunately, the anticipated legislative changes may come too late for the KPH. https://player.vimeo.com/video/147334918?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0 Please sign and share this petition asap.

  1,434 of 2,000 Signatures

  Created by Meike Brunkhorst
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  Campaign to Save The Norman King

  KEVIN McCLOUD, MBE -"Dunstable is short on great historic buildings and so the removal of any ancient scrap of architecture from the town is an appalling idea. We need to conserve the old to help us understand the present (and for that matter, the future) and heritage is not a burden but an amenity and a great blessing for our society. It gives us a sense of place and connection. The loss of the ancient fabric of The Norman King will be a crying shame and a further erosion of that connection. It's appalling that there has been no collective will among the authorities to keep as much as possible that remains of this fine old building and to insist on a sensitive program of repair and even reinstatement of the structure and roof lost to the fire. Apart from anything else, I used to drink there and will miss it." - KEVIN McCLOUD, MBE

  282 of 300 Signatures

  Created by Andrea Tompkins
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  Save the William IV pub

  The pub was sold to developers by Young’s Brewery, even though an offer to purchase to run this as a community pub was made not far off the full market value. This was declined by them. Meanwhile locals were informed that the pub was being sold as a going concern only to find it boarded up overnight and sold to developers. The William IV is the only non-gastro, hotel or family orientated pub left in the village. It had planning rejected on it in the past as the council deemed it important to the community. It has a very special atmosphere and there are very few places in the country left like this pub. The William IV is the beating heart of our community, where community and charitable events are organised, old and young mix and discussions are held on village life. Once the pub is developed it will be will be gone forever. Since its closure, people are travelling outside the village to socialise and have been split apart. Please list this pub as an Asset of Community Value, so we have the chance to rescue the heart of our village.

  1,208 of 2,000 Signatures

  Created by Juliette Cockell
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  Save the Queens Head Public House - KIngston upon Thames

  Public houses are more than just a place to sup a glass of beer, they can be the hub of the community and far, far more. There is no better place to meet up with local friends for a good old gossip. Community groups host meetings and public events whilst enjoying a pint, not forgetting those personal special celebrations which can be catered for, and don't forget that pub food is so much better than it ever used to be! Our local public houses also support the sale of beer produced by our own local breweries/micro breweries (eg Twickenham Ales, Park Brewery) thus helping to create local employment and adding to the local economy. We have already lost at least 2 local pubs over the years, The Richmond Park and the Alexandra Tavern are no more. CAMRA suggests that as many as 29 pubs are closing every week. 600 have already been listed as assets of community value and therefore protected, hopefully we will be able to add the Queens Head to that list with your help. If you would like to help prevent the potential closure and redevelopment of this important community asset, please sign this petition. Thank you very much for your support.

  395 of 400 Signatures

  Created by Diane Watling
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  Save The Green Dragon, Winchmore Hill

  There has been a Green Dragon pub on or near this site since 1726 and we feel very strongly that this traditional part of Winchmore Hill life should be maintained. When properly managed the pub was a vibrant centre of the community filled with laughter and conversation and we believe that with proper ownership and management it can be again. The building is an important historical landmark which identifies Winchmore Hill to those passing through, and as such prevents the area from being just another faceless section of Green Lanes. The pub has survived wars and countless other times of great difficulty and poverty over nearly 300 years, yet we are in danger of allowing it to be destroyed now just because of a few years of poor turnover and somebody's desire to make a quick profit. Please help us to save The Green Dragon and ensure its future at the heart of our community where Winchmore Hill residents can gather together to laugh, talk, eat, drink and celebrate as so many generations have before.

  4,612 of 5,000 Signatures

  Created by Mike McClean
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  Please Keep The Three Horseshoes in Fordham as an Asset of Community Value

  The ACV has been appealed. The Local Community has campaigned successfully to list the Three Horseshoes in Fordam as an 'Asset of Community Value'. Pubs listed as Assets of Community Value are automatically granted additional planning protection. Without ACV status, a pub can be demolished or converted into several other uses without planning permission. The local group are therefore campaigning to see the pub remains listed to ensure it remains in the local community. The ACV also gives the opportunity to bid to buy the pub should it come up for sale. There are around 50 community owned pubs already in the UK. The pub was nominated by the CAMRA Branch - other nominating bodies can include: Parish Councils, groups of 21 local people or a Neighbourhood Forum. For more info please visit: http://mycommunity.org.uk/resources/understanding-the-community-right-to-bid/

  229 of 300 Signatures

  Created by Abby Lambert
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  A New Dawn for The Rising Sun, Backwell

  Punch Taverns, the owners of the Rising Sun in Backwell are applying to turn the pub into housing. This would leave the village with only one pub at the far end of the village (over a mile away). We feel Backwell needs, and can support, more than one pub.  The Rising Sun is a great facility with lots of previously untapped potential.  We want to retain it as a pub, a place to meet, drink and eat, but also to use the many spaces within the building and gardens for community activities and groups. We are a thriving village with a strong and welcoming community - we support three schools, many sporting clubs, a music festival and a whole host of other activities.  Retaining The Rising Sun as a pub and breathing some much needed life into the space and business model would produce a profitable business that provides a real community and family hub - within a good old British pub environment.  Please sign our petition to show your support for turning The Rising Sun into an excellent community pub.  If we lose it to housing, it’ll be gone forever. Do look out for a survey about the pub coming soon - to make sure we gather the opinions of everyone in the community. We will also include some more information about how this exciting project could be delivered - lots of communities in the UK have saved their local pub! In the meantime, if you have any questions please use the Facebook page or email [email protected] and spread the word! Thank you!

  624 of 800 Signatures

  Created by Linda Sweet
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  Campaign to save the Camp public house St Albans

  The Camp is the epitome of your friendly local pub and has been serving the city of St Albans for over 100 years. With locally brewed real ales, and great value pub food – our local pub is at the heart of the community. The pub is also the social hub of the area, providing local entertainment including regular quiz and karaoke nights, evening events to raise money for local charities and hosting live televised sporting events. Despite being the centre of the community, soon locals in St Albans will be left without their local pub. The pub is due to close on 15th May and we desperately need your help to save it. The closure of the Camp public house demonstrates how vulnerable communities are to speculative and aggressive development tactics. An application to register the Camp as an Asset of Community Value has now been submitted to St Albans City Council. With the closure of the Camp imminent, we need you to help us urge the Council to accept the application to list the pub immediately. This will ensure planning permission is required for the pub to be demolished or converted to any other use. The listing also gives the community an opportunity to potentially come together to form a co-operative group to buy and run our local pub. Please sign this petition and urge the City Council to accept the nomination to ensure the pub continues to be part of our local community.

  747 of 800 Signatures

  Created by Steve Bury