SCORES of pubs have been put forward for special protection in response to a West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) campaign to save cherished locals from closure.
The WMCA and Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) ‘List Your Local’ campaign has received more than 155 nominations.
The scheme has proved so popular that no less than 50 of the nominations have come from outside the West Midlands and several pubs received multiple nominations.
It means there are 65 individual pubs now on the list.
Of these 25 are considered so valuable they already have Historic England heritage listed status but the remaining 40 have no protection at all.
The WMCA and CAMRA launched the campaign to better protect the region’s public houses in the wake of the fire and subsequent demolition of the famous Crooked House in Himley, Staffordshire.
The ‘List Your Local’ campaign encourages residents to submit applications for Historic England and asset of community value listing.
The WMCA and CAMRA have drawn up a ‘target list’ of suitable heritage pubs, which, alongside the public’s recommendations, will be examined on a case-by-case basis to see if and how they can be protected.
Options include heritage listing, asset of community value listing, or community ownership.
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the WMCA, said: “I am pleased to see submissions to protect the region’s most-loved pubs steadily growing.
“I am keen to not just protect these wonderfully historic buildings but also safeguard the heart and soul of our communities.”
The campaign follows a report by the WMCA, due to be published soon, which will focus on the preservation of pubs in the West Midlands.
Gary Timmins, director of CAMRA pub & club campaigns, said: “To see the outstanding response from the public to protect their local in such a short timescale is testament to how important pubs are across the West Midlands.
“This is the first step in our partnership with the WMCA to protect our pubs and work towards changes being made to planning legislation. Ultimately helping people to save their local and safeguard essential and valuable social community assets.”
