THE state of pubs in East Lancashire has been called into question following new figures published by the Campaign for Real Ale.

Camra has revealed almost 30 pubs across the country are closing every week, a figure that is almost twice the number of closures in 2011.

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The figures come after the Brown Cow in Chatburn was closed along with the Windmill pub in Mellor and The Prince of Wales pub in Darwen was put up for sale.

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans, who chairs the all-parliamentary beer group, said that the issue of pub closures should be taken up with government ministers.

He said: “When a pub closes its hard to get another to open in its place.

“They are at the heart of communities and more should be done to help them stay open.

“This government is doing all it can but maybe we need to look again at business rates and some of the red tape that’s strangling pubs.

“The number of pubs closing seems to be on the increase and we need to stop that rate.”

Camra is pressing the government to act to help save pubs after the latest figures from the CGA-Camra Pub Tracker.

These figures coincide with a new clause to the Infrastructure Bill in England, tabled by a cross-party group of MPs, which would mean planning permission is always required before demolishing or converting a pub into a supermarket convenience store or other retail use.

Camra chief executive Tim Page said: “It is currently possible to convert a pub into a betting shop, pay-day loan store or supermarket without the need for planning permission, making it far too easy for pubs valued by the community to be lost without local people having a say.

“Given the huge contribution that pubs make to community life in Britain we believe this cannot be right.

“The clause tabled by Charlotte Leslie MP is a fantastic opportunity to get the government to take swift action to close these planning loopholes.

“We urge every MP who supports local communities and local pubs to get behind this clause and help secure a better future for the great British pub industry.

“We hope that we can rally support from sufficient MPs to persuade ministers to reconsider their current refusal to provide effective planning protection for viable and valued pubs.”