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 The BBC's Rupert Segar"It's all too tempting for the owner to stop pulling pints and sell the property as a house"  real 28k |
SOS for village pubs
 Six village pubs close every week |
Urgent action needs to be taken to save village pubs, the government is being warned.
The Countryside Agency, which was set up earlier this year to advise the government on rural issues, says that every week six village pubs close for good and many are sold for housing.
 Rural pubs 'need' rate relief |
"That will go a long way to retain the village pub."
The Countryside Agency told BBC One's Countryfile programme that many more village pubs will close without cash help.
The idea of a mandatory rate relief is likely to form part of the Rural White Paper.
The Countryside Agency is advising ministers on what should be in the bill, which is due to be published next year.
'Heart of community'
The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) is also calling for cash help for village pubs.
Spokesman Paul Ainsworth said: "A village without a pub is like a village without a heart. If a pub dies, a big part of the village dies."
Camra has drawn up a 'viability test' to help local authorities determine whether a pub should close and be sold.
If the pub could be made profitable, then councils are advised to refuse planning permission for a change of use into a house.
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 | 06 Aug 98 | UK |
| Call for rural pubs to pay less tax |
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| 03 Sep 99 | UK |
| Calling time on short measures |
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| 05 Mar 99 | UK |
| Time called on pub name changes |
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