Government urged to back new law to protect historic pubs
The consumer group The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is calling on MPs and ministers to back a new law to stop heritage pubs in England from being demolished or converted.
CAMRA, which represents more than 145,000 beer lovers and pubgoers, is asking for the Heritage Public Houses Bill to be passed to give extra protections in law for historic and outstanding pubs in England and to safeguard such pubs as national treasures
The bill has been introduced by Conservative MP Mike Wood who is the MP for Kingswinford and South Staffordshire constituency where the Crooked House pub in Himley was demolished following a fire back in 2023.
CAMRA joined campaigners and communities across the country in calling for the Crooked House pub to be rebuilt brick-by-brick, however, despite these efforts, the future of the pub is still dependent on an ongoing police investigation before South Staffordshire Council can force the owners of the pub to rebuild it.
A ‘desperately needed bill’
According to CAMRA, The ‘Heritage Public Houses Bill’ would give much stronger protections in law to prevent pubs listed as a heritage pub being demolished or converted by property developers into houses or other uses, especially where the community wants to save the building as a pub.
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CAMRA chairman Ash Corbett-Collins said: “CAMRA and our 145,000 members are giving our full backing to this desperately needed bill that will give better protections for pubs, which are a vital part of our heritage and of community life up and down the country”.
Describing why the law was fundamental, he explained that in many cases the local community, and indeed everyone across the country, have a need to feel reassured that there are safeguarding procedures in place to stop people simply buying up English heritage sites and destroying their integrity, charm and historic value.
‘A special place in our national story’
Illustrating his point, Corbett-Collins said: “The public’s reaction to the scandal of the Crooked House in Himley being destroyed showed just how much the nation values historic and unique pubs, and why better protections are needed to stop them being lost forever to demolition or converted into houses, shops or takeaways.”
Corbett-Collins added: “A huge thank you to Mike Wood for standing up to save and safeguard outstanding pubs that hold such a special place in our national story in the past, present and – if the Government and MPs back this legislation – the future too.”
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