CHRIS Vince, Labour MP for Harlow, has welcomed the Government’s new £61 million package of support for pubs, and other community spaces, including plans to introduce a new Community Right to Buy.

The £61 million fund will help communities protect valued local assets, supporting residents to save community pubs at risk of closing. The new Community Right to Buy will give local people a greater opportunity to step in and safeguard cherished pubs for future generations.

Harlow has a proud tradition of pubs in our town being named after butterflies and moths, done in the construction of the new town: the Drinker Moth, the Purple Emperor, and White Admiral, creating a sense of community.

For too long, communities have seen cherished local pubs sold off or closed with little opportunity for local people to intervene. Today’s announcement will help protect pubs from closure and preserve the important role they play as community hubs, particularly in rural and suburban areas.

Today’s announcement forms part of a wider package of support for pubs alongside the tax rate freeze announced in January, which will help pubs save money. Together, these measures will provide additional support for a sector that plays an important role in building and supporting communities across the country.

The measures also form part of Labour’s wider plan to back high streets, support local businesses and strengthen community life, ensuring pubs can continue to serve as valued community hubs for generations to come.

After years of decline under the Conservatives, which saw almost 7,000 pubs close between 2010 and 2023, Labour is taking action to back local pubs and the communities they serve.

Chris Vince, Labour MP for Harlow, said:”Local pubs are at the heart of our communities. They bring people together, support local jobs and provide a vital space for people to meet and socialise. For too long, communities have watched cherished pubs disappear with little opportunity to step in and save them.

The new Community Right to Buy will help give local people a stronger voice in protecting these valued assets. That’s something local pubs and communities across Harlow can raise a glass to.”