New research showing that since January 2010, over 200 pubs across Britain have been converted into supermarket convenience stores.
Camra has been lobbying hard in recent years to persuade the UK government to close arcane planning law loopholes in England and Wales which are allowing pubs – amenities which provide a community centre and a managed environment to consume alcohol – to be demolished or converted without the need for planning permission, and therefore rendering communities powerless in the fight to save their locals.
Based on a national pub conversion survey carried out by its members, Camra has found that since the beginning of 2010, a staggering 130 pubs have been converted into convenience stores by supermarket giant Tesco, and 22 by Sainsbury’s, with a further 54 by other companies such as The Co-Operative, Asda and Costcutter.
With a further 45 pubs reported to be under threat of conversion across Britain at present, Mike Benner, Camra chief executive, said: “Weak and misguided planning laws and the predatory acquisition of valued pub sites by large supermarket chains, coupled with the willingness of pub owners to cash-in and sell for development, are some of the biggest threats to the future of Britain’s social fabric.
“For years, large supermarket chains have shown a disregard for the wellbeing of local communities, gutting much-loved former pubs in areas already bursting with supermarket stores.”
Source: Camra
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