"We must keep our local pubs open for business" - Sarah Carr

6.04.36pm GMT Sat 7th Nov 2009

Local campaigner Sarah Carr, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for Hereford and South Herefordshire, has been working hard with the local community to help preserve the uncertain future of the much loved Castle Inn village pub at Little Birch (used by villagers in Little Birch, Much Birch and Kingsthorne).

Concerns regarding the viability of the village pub have raised questions about its future, with local people involved expressing a desire to keep the pub open. Sarah has met with the Parish council and the local 'Save Our Pub' Group, as well as speaking to the Castle Inn owner to help mediate a way forward.

With nearly 6 pubs closing every day of the week, and local pubs continually coming under threat, Sarah Carr commenting said,

"Local pubs such as the Castle Inn at Little Birch act as vital hubs of our communities, but are increasingly coming under the threat of closure like so many of our other public facilities. I am working hard with local people to try and secure the future of this village pub.

"From speaking to pub owners and licensees I know many have been having a hard time making ends meet especially during this recession. At some point the government will realise that village pubs, shops, schools and post offices, closed under both Conservative and Labour governments, have a real social as well as economic value and must be preserved.

"I believe the government could be doing a lot more to support our pubs such as extending the discretionary local 50 per cent rate relief scheme for village shops to sole village pubs and acting against unfair practices in the brewery trade. I will be writing to the Minister to demand action on these points.

"I will continue to press our government to take steps to preserve the much valued village pub before they all disappear."