Infrastructure Bill [Lords]

Debate between Stephen Williams and Roger Williams

Monday 26th January 2015 Commons Chamber

[Roger Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire) (LD)]

rose—

[Stephen Williams]

I give way to my fellow Williams.

[Roger Williams]

My hon. Friend said that the Welsh Government had not taken full advantage of the Localism Act. In my constituency, and in Wales in general, pubs enjoy the full protection of the planning law, and that includes a real presumption against the closure of the last pub in the village. Is the situation similar in England?

[Stephen Williams]

Yes. That is exactly the position with which we are familiar all over the country. I have visited several pubs in England that have been listed as assets of community value precisely because they are “the last pub in the village”. I urge my hon. Friend, as well as the hon. Member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr (Jonathan Edwards), to put pressure on the Welsh Government to ensure that not only planning protections but “asset of community protections” are in place.