PUB campaigners believe the closure of a controversial planning loophole has protected more pubs for longer.

The Press reported last week how its Be Vocal For Your Local campaign had been a success after the Government moved to stop developers from striking a deal with breweries by forcing them to go through the planning application process.

We launched the campaign in November 2014 and called on the Government and City of York Council to give residents a voice on under-threat premises by adapting planning laws.

The changes mean companies hoping to take over pubs and turn them into convenience stores, bookmakers or estate agents will have to apply for planning permission, giving drinkers a chance to fight for the future of their favourite pub.

Campaigners could apply for an Article 4 Direction (A4D) to force developers through planning or list it as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) to give locals six months to fight off any plans, but developers were able to strike deals with breweries before the loophole was closed.

The Corner House, in Burton Stone Lane, is now a Heron Foods, but The Punch Bowl at the top of The Groves and The Saddle Inn, in Fulford, are both still pubs after The Press raised awareness of supermarket-giants keen to move in.

Paul Giller successfully campaigned to keep open The Punch Bowl after it came under threat from being taken over by Tesco, which wanted to turn the pub into a mini-supermarket.

He said: “Big supermarkets and companies should not be able to do what they want and when they want.

“There has to be legislation that calms them down.

“I support this because it stops people making a change of use to anything they want.”

Nick Love, pub protection officer at York’s Campaign for Real Ale, added: “It provides a protection against pub companies or businesses turning them into supermarkets without anyone’s knowledge.

“With an ACV campaigners have got to be pro-active and get 21 signatures and go through a 12 week process to get one. ACVs give people the chance to bid on a pub when it goes on the market.

“Closing this loophole stops companies and breweries doing it behind the scenes and prevent people from not having enough time to block it.”