EASTLEIGH MP BACKS PUB CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THE LOCAL (Eastleigh Liberal Democrats)

Eastleigh Liberal Democrats <enquiries@eastleighlibdems.org.uk>

EASTLEIGH MP BACKS PUB CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THE LOCAL

March 23, 2009 9:30 AM

Chris Huhne with Philip Perry-Ogden, Sheila and Geoff Jacobs, Lesley and Robin Pierson and Michael Moore Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne has joined local publicans in a campaign to save local pubs from closure.

Chris is pictured here with (from left) Philip Perry-Ogden from the Old George at Fair Oak, Sheila and Geoff Jacobs from the Grantham Arms in Eastleigh, Lesley and Robin Pierson from the Brickmakers at Swanmore and their legal adviser Michael Moore.

"Pubs are closing across south Hampshire at a record rate" says Chris who recently revealed figures showing 97 out of 771 pubs in South Hampshire had shut their doors since 2006. "Just in our borough, the Fountain Inn in Hedge End, the Longmead Arms in Bishopstoke and the Station Inn in Netley have closed."

"The friendly local is being hard hit by red tape, soaring beer taxes, supermarket loss-leader offers on bargain booze and tough terms for tenants from the big chains like Enterprise and Punch" said Chris.

"It's time to fight back. Good pubs are at the heart of every friendly community and we won't know what we have lost if we allow this trend to continue."

Chris Huhne attended the recent ministerial summit to look at ways of making life easier for publicans and the Eastleigh MP is backing a cross-party campaign to relieve the pressure on publicans and has signed a commons motion put forward by fellow Lib Dem MP Bob Russell that now has support from 160 MPs.

Chris Huhne said: "Traditional public houses are being unfairly priced out of the market while supermarkets offer cheap deals without the level of restrictions and responsibilities required of pub licensees. That's why the Chancellor should not raise beer tax in this budget."

Chris pointed out that last year's budget raised alcohol duty by 9 per cent, and called for an alcohol duty accelerator pushing up duty by 2 per cent a year for four years.

"The Chancellor has to take account of realities in the pub trade instead of assuming that pub customers will just pay through the nose. They are voting with their feet, and pubs are closing at a record rate".