Labour’s Deputy Leader, Angela Rayner, has pledged to rejuvenate high streets across the South West, following alarming projections that without intervention, numerous constituencies, including Swindon North and Swindon South, could become ‘pub deserts’ by 2049.
Rayner unveiled Labour’s ambitious plans today, which include granting communities the right to purchase, manage, and restore cherished local assets before they are sold to the highest bidder. Currently, there are 483 ‘assets of community value’ in the South West, including 211 pubs.
The initiative to ‘Right to Buy’ shuttered pubs headlines Labour’s comprehensive 5-point strategy aimed at safeguarding local pubs:
- ‘Right to buy’ shuttered pubs: Labour proposes empowering communities with a robust ‘right to buy’ beloved local establishments like pubs, enabling locals to take charge of closures or impending sales.
- Crackdown on anti-social behaviour: Labour plans to bolster neighbourhood policing by redirecting funds from inefficient contracts.
- Rollout of banking hubs: Recognising the importance of face-to-face banking services, Labour intends to establish banking hubs within local pubs to support cash-dependent customers.
- Reform of business rates: Labour aims to overhaul the current business rates system, which disproportionately impacts pubs, in favour of a fairer business property tax model.
- Reduction of energy costs: Labour’s Great British Energy initiative seeks to invest in sustainable British energy sources, thereby lowering energy bills and shielding pubs from global price fluctuations.
The community right to buy policy will be underpinned by strengthened legislation to facilitate collective purchasing of ‘assets of community value’, including shops, theatres, and sports facilities that form the core of towns and cities.
All proposals outlined in Labour’s strategy, detailed in their manifesto ‘Change’ released last week, are fully financed and accounted for.
Angela Rayner asserted, “After witnessing over a decade of neglect, it’s evident that South West town centres urgently require revitalisation. Dilapidation, pothole-ridden roads, and vacant shops have become all too familiar. Labour is committed to breathing new life into our local high streets, recognising them as a pivotal economic asset with untapped potential.”
Will Stone, Labour’s candidate for Swindon North, echoed these sentiments, emphasising the critical role of local businesses in the community. “Our shops and pubs are the lifeblood of the South West, yet many face uncertain futures.
“Labour’s community right-to-buy initiative could transform our area, enabling communities to safeguard these vital spaces from closure and neglect. This election presents an opportunity for positive change in Swindon North, revitalising our high streets and securing their future prosperity.”
