MP steps up battle to preserve pubs

By John Harrington

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Westminster system Bill

Adams: wants to cut pub demolitions
Adams: wants to cut pub demolitions
The MP behind a Bill to make it harder to demolish pubs plans to meet Communities Secretary Eric Pickles to get Government support for the action....

The MP behind a Bill to make it harder to demolish pubs plans to meet Communities Secretary Eric Pickles to get Government support for the action.

Nigel Adams told the Morning Advertiser​ his Private Members' Bill has only an "outside chance of success" so Government backing would make a big difference.

Adams' Protection of Local Services (Planning) Bill proposes giving English councils powers to close loopholes that allow local services such as pubs to be demolished, or turned into other properties, without planning permission.

Adams, Conservative MP for Selby and Ainsty, said the Bill was picked as eighth out of 20 in the ballot of Private Members' Bills to be introduced this Parliament.

Usually only the first seven "Ballot Bills" get debated. 21 January 2011 has been pencilled in for a debate on Adams' proposals, but this could change.

"People have to realise it's an outside chance of success because of where I appear on the ballot," said the MP.

"But the Bill has lots of cross-party support and it certainly deserves time to debate it in the Chamber."

Sometimes Private Members' Bills are taken on by Governments, giving them greater chances of success.

When asked if this could happen with his Bill, Adams said: "Possibly. I will speak to Communities Secretary Eric Pickles about it to try to get Government support."

Adams said he'd "work closely" with the Campaign for Real Ale to "flesh out the details" of the Bill.

He added that the industry was a "particular interest" of his, with "at least five" breweries in his constituency, and he recognises the "tough times" pubs are having.

Related topics Legislation

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