Local MP fights to help pub managers

10.27.00am GMT Tue 27th Jan 2009

Local MP Tim Farron is this week upping his campaign to save locally managed pubs in the South Lakes.

Last week brewers Thwaites disclosed that they were looking to make 86 workers at the historic Blackburn firm redundant as the company looks to transfer 37 of its pubs to tenanted or leased operations.

Mr Farron last week launched a petition in support of the Albion and put down an Early Day Motion in parliament calling on Thwaites to change their plans.

Commenting, Mr Farron said:

"This move by Thwaites threatens the future of the Albion, Arnside and other pubs like it. Thwaites decision would unfairly shift risk from the large company to the small publican and I am calling looking to bring all sides together and make sure that pubs like the Albion stay at the heart of our communities.

To expect people in the middle of massive economic downturn to get credit to buy a business is unlikely. Furthermore, to do this to long serving staff is unacceptable, I hope they see the error of there ways soon!

As someone who drinks in the Albion I am well aware of the huge role it plays in the community of Arnside. Lynne and John Gallagher are lynchpins of the local community and the situation that they have found themselves in is completely unacceptable."

Tim Farron MP's Early Day Motion on Thwaites:

That this house regrets the decision taken by Thwaites to unilaterally change their 'managed pubs' into 'tenanted' ones; considers this to be a serious threat to employees working in these pubs and to the role of the pub as the social hub of the community where people can enjoy alcohol in a responsible manner; believes that this is an unfair transfer of risk and responsibility from the company to individual publicans; and calls on Thwaites to review its policy with immediate effect.