Wednesday 28th January 2015

North East Derbyshire MP Natascha Engel has spoken of her frustration over the government's scuppering of a measure that would help protect community pubs - including New Whittington favourite The Wellington - from being converted to retail premises.



MPs voted on an amendment to the wide-ranging Infrastructure Bill last night, which would require planning permission to be sought before demolishing or converting a pub into a supermarket convenience store or other retail premises.

The proposal won the backing of 245 Labour and opposition MPs, including Ms Engel, (above), but was defeated, as 295 MPs - including Tory government ministers - voted against the plan.

Ms Engel's disappointment is shared by drinkers campaigning to save The Wellington (below), in New Whittington which, as we reported in November, has been earmarked by a property firm to be converted to a supermarket (see full story HERE).



Save Our Welly campaign leader Viky Muddiman said: "We're pleased Natascha voted for this proposal but really disappointed it didn't get enough support to be written into law.

"Pubs are part of the fabric of our communities. Once they're gone, they're gone!

"The locals campaigning to save community pubs like The Wellington don't have the know-how or the lobbying expertise of the big property firms and supermarkets; we need government to stand up for us."

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has revealed that 29 pubs are closing each week in the UK.

Natascha Engel said she is, "Dismayed that Tory MPs turned down the chance to help pubs like The Wellington. David Cameron talked about localism and empowering communities when he was in opposition, but in government, he's failed to stand up to vested interests."

Ms Engel added, "The Wellington is an important part of the local economy in New Whittington and, in spite of this set back, I'll be continuing to campaign for the premises to remain a pub."

The Save our Welly campaign is holding a meeting, to which all are welcome, in The Wellington, on High Street, New Whittington, on Monday 2nd February at 7pm.

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