Making the most of local assets

Rumour has it that the White Horse in Great Waldingfield has been purchased by a company that wishes to retain it as a pub.  The future of Bob’s Stores in Acton is less certain, although I would have guessed that a new owner will easily be found to make sure that this excellent  shop continues as a going concern.

However all over the country similar local amenities are being threatened with closure or change of use in rural and urban areas alike.  Sometimes a local community group has been able to take over; the village shops in Monks Eleigh and Polstead come to mind.  Often however, a sale takes place quickly and the opportunity to preserve an amenity for the community is lost.

Last week I went to a Local Government Association Seminar about new opportunities and powers that the Government is giving community groups and parish and town councils in the Localism Bill 2011.  Babergh will be among the authorities that will be obliged to maintain a list of ‘assets of community value’.  If a place is on such a list any community organisation will have the right to ask for a delay in the sale on the open market to allow them to prepare a bid.

I will be drawing these new provisions to the attention of parish councils in the next month or so when I attend their meetings.  There are one or two assets that I can think of in the Ward that would meet the criteria and could usefully be registered.