Village pubs 'closing down'

07/07/2009

The village pub is becoming a thing of the past in many areas, thanks to the financial downturn.

According to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), 13 rural pubs are closing each week - and village shops are closing at a rate of 300 to 500 a year.

This is despite a poll of the group's members showing that 44 per cent rely on just one local pub, shop, post office or petrol station.

The recession has led to some of Britain's most famous high-street names going out of business.

Around 30,000 people lost their jobs when Woolworth's entered administration at the end of last year.

In response, the FSB called on the government to give the businesses tax breaks to help them survive.

"Village shops and pubs are at the heart of village life and the failure of such a business can devastate local communities, the Treasury must ensure our village shops and pubs do not go the same way as the Royal Show by enabling our local authorities to give 100 per cent rate relief during this downturn," Linda Walton at the group said.

Tags; Current UK Economy, Young Family Finances, Recent Graduate Debt,

• Share
• 
• 
• Store
• 
• Follow
•