If you want to help keep local pubs open, or protect other important community buildings or land, and give the community a chance to bid to own them, there is good news – Mendip District Council has already registered two pubs as ‘Assets of Community Value’ under the Localism Act – the New Inn, in Priddy, and the Redan, in Chilcompton, following successful applications by community groups.

See http://www.mendip.gov.uk/acv (the Register of ACV is found under ‘Documents’ at the bottom of the page) for further details.

I think this is one of the most important piece of legislation in recent years, as it gives local community groups (including parish councils) at least a chance to put in a bid to take control of buildings and land, such as pubs, or open spaces, which will ‘further the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community’.

If anyone is considering using this new power, which if successful would give community groups the right to bid to buy the asset, you need to read the guidance and application criteria very carefully, and fill in the form – see http://www.mendip.gov.uk/acv – then officers will report to councillors, and a group of councillors will decide!

Adam Boyden
Mendip District Councillor, Frome College ward