Campaigners celebrate rural pubs victory
Trade campaigners are celebrating another victory in the fight to save rural pubs.
Funding has now been agreed by the Countryside Agency and the Department of Education to roll out a scheme called "Locals Online" which helps install computers in rural outlets.
It is hoped this will not only help bring Internet access to villages but also pull more customers into rural outlets, helping boost trade for licensees, many of whom have been struggling against the drop in tourism caused by foot-and-mouth.
Successful trials of the computer scheme in Yorkshire pubs prompted North Yorkshire Council to expand the scheme and councils in Lancashire, West Dorset and Northumbria are now selecting pubs to take part.
It is hoped that in time pubs nationwide will be able to take part in the scheme, which allows several computers to be installed at rural outlets for use by the community. The machines are linked to the internet and pubs are encouraged to host training sessions. They can also offer an email service and allow customers to surf the net as they enjoy a drink.
The scheme will be rolled out at the rate of one pub per day from the start of July.
The initiative was set up with the help of trade body the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations (FLVA) and the North West Beer and Pub Association (NWBPA).
Tony Payne, chief executive of the FLVA, said: "It is a major achievement for rural pubs but it is also for the customers as well. The computers will help bring in extra trade and enable villagers to have access to the Internet.
Lee Le Clerc from the NWBPA said he was hoping the scheme would be rolled out nationwide.
"I think this is going to run and run, particularly after we start generating positive feedback and awareness from the first pubs to sign up. This initiative really shows just how important pubs are as local services especially now that many post offices and shops have closed," he said.
This is another victory for campaigners who last year won rate relief for rural pubs in Wales and for selected outlets in England.
