Community right to buy for residents

Author: Daily Mail - Nov 20, 2009

Posted in: Building a Stronger Society / Creating an environment for local enterprise to thrive / Local Government News

Residents should have the right to take over post offices, libraries, swimming pools or pubs threatened with closure, Conservatives said yesterday.

Voluntary groups should have the right to buy when valued businesses and facilities are lost, they added.

The move follows the shutdown over the past decade of more than 5,000 post offices, 3,500 pubs and 200 public libraries.

The Conservatives says that voluntary groups should have to right to buy local businesses threatened with closure

A community right-to-buy would also give parents' associations, church groups or other non-profit voluntary groups the power to bid to take over playgrounds, parks, sports fields and even schools if they believe local authorities that run them are performing badly.

They will have first refusal on buying public assets that are being closed down and the right to a fair price if they do, Shadow Local Government Secretary Caroline Spelman said.

Commercial businesses such as pubs, post offices and village shops will also be covered by the new law, she said.

Mrs Spelman said: 'People feel powerless to stop communities losing access to vital services and facilities.'

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