More important than ever

Some good news on a national level for pubs this week -- but it's news that means all your efforts and support to keep the KPH a pub are more important than ever. MPs voted earlier this week to give increased protection to pubs that provide the most community benefit. The high number of pub groups applying for Asset of Community Value listings has demonstrated the need for change in planning legislation. They therefore plan to bring forward secondary legislation so that in England the listing of a pub as an ACV will trigger removal of the right to change the use or demolish a pub that communities have identified as providing the most community benefit. This will mean that if the KPH is listed as an Asset of Community Value, a planning application will be required for the change of use or demolition. This then provides an opportunity for local people to comment, and enables the local planning authority to determine the application in accordance with its local plan, any neighbourhood plan, and national policy. The local planning authority may take the listing into account as a material consideration when determining any planning application. We were awarded such protection in December under an Article 4 Direction but only for 6 months. Bottom line -- it's more important than ever that we show our support to the Council for our Asset of Community Value application. This is the best tool we have to protecting our pubs. Please share and get the word out there that this petition is here on Change.org. It's the best way to demonstrate to the Council that the KPH has the support it needs to make the right decision. If we want to keep our local pubs, we have to be counted! Thank you! Cheers, KPH United