TORY plans could see local people granted far-reaching powers to protect rural services from closure.

A new ‘Community Right to Buy’ scheme being considered by the Conservatives would allow not-for-profit community groups to take over the running of struggling local facilities.

The Tories claim the idea could save facilities such as post offices, pubs and parks from closure.

Under Labour, 5,400 post offices, 200 libraries and 3,500 pubs have been lost across England, it said.

The proposals would see groups such as schools, churches or volunteers able to bid to take over the running of publicly owned community assets.

These groups would have to show that they could manage these assets more efficiently and effectively than the state.

When a state-owned community asset faces closure or being sold, voluntary groups will have a right of first refusal to buy that asset for a fair price.

The new rights to community ownership would cover assets owned by central government and quangos, not just town halls.

Shadow rural affairs minister Jim Paice said: “Local neighbourhoods across the country have lost too many essential local services and facilities.”

People felt powerless to prevent their communities from losing access to vital services and facilities, he added.

“The Conservatives will give bold new powers to people to protect and improve vital community assets and preserve the social fabric of our neighbourhoods.”

The right to buy would give rural residents a chance to run post offices, pubs and shops whose survival was of genuine local importance.

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (1)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Show/hide comments

...
written by Anthony Bush, January 04, 2010

I am struggling to see what is new in all this. If a village shop closes, any community is at liberty to set up a replacement, now. In fact this is happening in Wellington, Herefordshire, at the moment with the help of the Parish Council.

Anthony Bush

• 
• +0
• 
• 

Show/hide comment form