New ruling to give pubs extra protection against being converted into supermarkets

From April 6, locals listed as Assets of Community Value (ACVs) will receive full planning protection after new laws were passed.

At the moment, the most common way to stop pubs being converted is to secure an Article 4 Direction (A4D) from the council, which forces companies to apply for planning permission and gives regulars a say on the building's future.

York pubs including The Saddle Inn and The Punch Bowl, in The Groves, have come under threat from takeover, leading to The Press launching its Be Vocal For Your Local campaign calling for a blanket A4D to be issued across York.

This is an ongoing process, but the latest achievement has been welcomed by those in the industry.

Paul Crossman, licensee of York pubs The Swan, The Slip Inn, The Volunteer Arms and The Woolpack, said: "The problem is it's too easy for a pub to be turned into a supermarket which is why a lot of us are campaigning.

"The Government needs to give all pubs protection through planning and that will give everyone a say who wants one.

"If anyone lives near a pub they care about, get it listed because it's got teeth now and means more than it did."

The Mitre, in Shipton Road, The Winning Post, in Bishopthorpe Road and The Fox, in Holgate Road, have all been listed as Assets of Community Value by City of York Council after applications were made to the authority.

Kevin Keaveny, pub preservation officer for York Campaign for Real Ale society, said: "This gives communities protection for five years, and means a proper consultation process must be done.

"Rural and suburban pubs are particularly at risk of a sudden change of use, and York CAMRA can work with communities to help protect their local pub."

Tim Page, chief executive, Campaign for Real Ale, said: "All it takes is a local group or 21 locals to start the process of having a pub listed as an ACV, so let’s push the number of listed pubs from hundreds to thousands."