COMMUNITY PUB CAMPAIGN BACKED

The Local Government Association is now supporting a Newcastle Lib Dem campaign to see the creation of statutory powers to prohibit large pub and retail companies selling properties with restrictive covenants that prevent the use of the property for similar purposes by someone else.

Councillor David Down said: "The proposal is now with the Secretary of State.

"We also want powers to prevent a developer buying an important community facility, such as a local pub, and knocking it down before other potential providers have tried to continue its use."