Positive Noises and Good News

Save The White Lion Crays Pond

There are more positive noises coming from The Government about Pubs and Pub property.

A number of our supporters noticed an article on the BBC-See link below-

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyllg1v0kdo

The article is entitled-

'Changing Pubs into Offices or Homes to be made harder under new rules'

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) will have the following effect on all Pub property in England and mean-

'To go ahead with a change of use under the new rules, developers will need to provide evidence that there is no reasonable prospect of keeping a pub business running.'

(Well the owner tried that before

and failed)

The evidence will need to include proof it was marketed for sale for at least 12 months.

(Well if the Owner puts the property up for sale now it falls under the ACV rules giving the Community a Right to Buy')

A government spokesperson told the BBC that councils would need to assess the impact on a community of a change of use.

(Well the owner has tried that before and failed)

It also means that...The rules will reportedly stop owners from deliberately killing off trade in order to justify a closure, protecting pubs which have been historically successful.

(Well the Owner tried that...remember the 'Whisky Haveli'..and the ruling from the High Court)

ACV Rule Changes

There have also been some changes in the ACV (Asset of Community Value) rules.

1/ ACV's now last for 10Years (if we were successful again in 2029 we would have 10 years protection not just 5 years)

2/ The need for the ACV to have reference to 'A recent Past' has been removed, so you only have to show the premises has operated as a Pub and still has a planning designation as a Pub (The White Lion qualifies on both points)

3/ If the property is placed on the Market then the Community does not simply have a 'Right to Bid' but a 'Right to Buy' (at a current market value.)

And now for some really Good News

Extract from a CAMRA publication hot of the Press!!

The Community Right to Buy fund is launched

CAMRA has welcomed the potentially game-changing new £61m Community Right to Buy Fund, which could help communities buy a local at risk of being sold, converted or demolished. 

The Campaign has made it clear to government it needed to reinstate funding allowing community groups to take ownership of their much-needed pubs after the previous fund was axed in 2024. 

The £61m Pride in Place Community Right to Buy Fund was announced by Communities Secretary Steve Reed yesterday who said it will “empower communities to take ownership of valued local assets such as pubs, clubs and community centres, reversing the decline in shared public spaces and supporting social connection”. 

CAMRA’s national planning policy adviser Paul Ainsworth said: “The number of community-owned pubs opening has noticeably slowed down over the last year. This is undoubtedly connected to the demise of the Community Ownership Fund which made it much harder for locals to raise cash to save their pub. Without suitable and accessible funding, many community groups were simply priced out of trying to save their local from oblivion. We are awaiting the full details, but the news of this new funding looks set to be a vital lifeline for many pubs which are under threat of closure or conversion.  

“Vibrant communities and flourishing local economies depend on pubs not only surviving but thriving. Community ownership is a fantastic pathway to securing a pub at the heart of community life for decades to come – a pub run by the people, for the people

Of course it is clear to all of us that the Owner is simply leaving the premises to deteriorate and potentially fall down or be beyond repair, so maybe we will also hear some Positive noises about the state of the property and its future from the current or new Council and the Planning Authority!

Now onto the Petition 

We wrote recently about a HM Gov Petition

Support us in signing an HM.GOV Petition.

We know from the emails we received that many of you did do just that...and Thank you.

If you have not as yet been able to go to the link and put your name to this please do it could make all the difference.

The Link is below.

Help stop Developer Blight on our High streets, Villages and Hamlets

Create community right to buy for empty pubs that are Assets of Community Value

Closes on 15 January 2027

We call on the Government to pass a law where pubs designated as an Asset of Community Value that are empty for 6 months or more, and where the owner refuses to sell or rent out the asset at an independently assessed fair market value, automatically trigger a community right to buy at market value.

Across England, hundreds of valued pubs are protected as Assets of Community Value, yet owners can leave them closed for years and refuse fair offers to reopen them, with no duty to act in good faith. Communities risk losing their last shared space and watch listed buildings rot. We ask the Government to give communities a real right to save their pub. 

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/773816

And Finally

Well done Upper Basildon!

The residents of Upper Basildon have been able to purchase the Red Lion and plan to open it as a community pub.

When we have more information on how they managed this we will let you know.

All for now except –

Cheers to the residents of Upper Basildon

Thank you all for your continued support we can’t do this without you

Our Aims.

Get The White Lion property in Crays Pond reopened as a community pub and so much more.-OR

Work with any responsible plan to reopen the White Lion as a Pub so it can be a commercial success.-AND

Support SODC with rejecting any Planning request that does not allow the White Lion to reopen as a Pub as their own planning protocols dictate.

CPCG Officials:

Fiona O’Brien – Chairperson.

Bill Pechey – Secretary.

Chris Hurst – Treasurer

Contact- crayspondcommunitygroup@gmail.com

Website- www.savethewhitelion.com

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