Blears leads pub buyout… and could pull pints

Former Communities Secretary Hazel Blears is leading a campaign to save a derelict inner-city pub for the local community in Salford, Greater Manchester.

Blears also plans to contribute financially to the project — and she told the Morning Advertiser: "I see myself pulling pints in there."

According to Blears, the Woolpack has been a "much-loved" part of the Pendleton Precinct for many years.

But when it closed 18 months ago, Blears — who used to head up the Government department that has now promised £1m of support to Pub is the Hub — was inundated with calls from local residents.

Pendleton, which she described as "quite a difficult area", is earmarked for a £120m redevelopment. Blears approached the council with the idea that the project should include a new community pub — the Woolpack.

The local NHS Primary Care Trust (PCT) has also got involved. Blears said: "This is quite uncommon — the Health Service and alcohol don't usually see eye to eye."

In this case, it is keen to promote the moderate drink-ing message and a healthy-eating menu. Apprenticeships for young people in hospitality and catering are also included in the plan, along with a microbrewery.

"The PCT is looking at ways of meeting the needs of older people who are depressed and isolated. Instead of sending them to a day centre, they should be able to go to the more convivial atmosphere of the local pub."

Plans for the development should be ready by September, although the scheme is projected to take around four years to complete.

Initially 450 people signed a petition to save the pub, and 40 people attended a meeting about it last week.

Blears hopes to set up a Community Interest Company to allow residents to buy a share in the pub.

She suggested that funding could be drawn from the Government's Communities department, as well as from John Healey's £4m match funding for pubs.