We'd have community spirit on tap in our pub

Published on Monday 23 July 2007 12:37

FOR most folk, buying their local pub would be nothing more than a pipe dream.

But one city action group are attempting to do just that, and they hope it will lead to good times for their whole community.

The Portobello residents have launched a campaign to buy the empty seafront pub, The Place by the Sea.

It would be run as an old-fashioned local - but with space for youth clubs and art classes, and all the money being ploughed back into the area.

Father-of-one Thomas Black, 34, a development officer, is one of the residents behind the Portobello Energy Descent and Land Reform group (Pedal).

He said: "This would give us the opportunity to bring everyone together and really capture a community spirit.

"In the main we could have a good old local pub which also has custom-built space for the community, so whether we wanted a range of services, like youth groups to use the space or hold art classes on a certain night of the week, we could do that.

"And the good thing is, profits that come in can go straight back into other community ventures."

The group believe the best way forward is to use Scottish Executive "right to buy" legislation to help them - which in its current state does not apply to urban communities.

But, backed by Edinburgh-based pressure group Local People Leading, Pedal members are confident they can successfully lobby to secure the right to buy the derelict pub for the community.

Mr Black said: "Although the act itself wouldn't bring money directly, it would certainly give us clout to gain access to more because we'd have something to show we were putting it into. There's lots of money available out there.

"We've looked at acquiring things before and not been able to, so this legislation extension would really help us."

Pedal are also keen to install wind turbines and other renewable energy generators at the pub, and elsewhere in the seaside suburb.

Mr Black said: "Renewable energy is the best opportunity in years communities have had to capitalise on funds.

"If we were to build a wind turbine, say, we would take all the profits from that and be able to put it straight back into the community."

Pedal chairman Justin Kenrick said he was confident that the "right to buy" law could be extended.

The father-of-three, who has lived in Portobello for 12 years, said: "This would create something different for us and the community, it really would be in everyone's benefit.

"No-one would have thought that the first act would have happened, so these things do change. It just takes a push.

"Things look impossible by definition - they seem hard, but can be changed if you try."

Di Jennings, campaign co-ordinator for Local People Leading, said there would be wide-ranging benefits if communities in towns and cities were given more of a say in their future.

She said: "It would help capture the old village spirit which seems to have been lost over the years.

"There are people in communities across the city who would get behind this."

"It is going to be an increasing trend over the next few years - the benefits for local people and local communities are endless."

A Scottish Executive spokesman said: "There are no current plans to do this [extend the legislation]. But we have said all along that the legislation would be kept under review and there is scope for it to be tweaked."

THE FACTS

The Land Reform Act, introduced in 2003, has allowed communities of less than 10,000 to buy their own land - most notably on Gigha, where residents have purchased the entire island.

The law requires groups to come up with a detailed plan of their intentions, set up a trust and ballot the community to achieve a vote of 60 per cent in favour of the move. Once this is in place the group can formally declare interest on the desired venue - which can be public or private, and the owner must give them first refusal on buying it.

The established trust which formally registers its intent on premises or land would then stand a much higher chance of securing funding grants from agencies such as the Lottery.