Councillors in Calderdale have joined the fight to save local pubs.
A campaign launched by Calderdale Liberal Democrats aims to protect the area’s watering holes.
Residents are being urged to sign an online petition pledging to involve local government in giving pubs better protection under planning legislation.
And the actions of a community group trying to save a pub in Holywell Green has been hailed as an example of what can be done.
Clr James Baker said they were concerned over recent research which claims 26 pubs are closing every week.
He said the closure of local pubs such as the Holy Well Inn and The Fox and Goose in Hebden Bridge poses considerable damage to the local community.
He said: “The campaign has been set up in response to the threat our local pubs are facing.
“We plan to distribute postcards and beer mats asking local residents to say why they love their local.”
And he said councillors would urge people to sign the online petition.
Clr Janet Battye, leader of the Calderdale Liberal Democrats has already signed the petition.
“Local pubs are hubs of the community and are vitally important, especially in the villages that have lost their post offices or shops,” she said.
“We are running this campaign to get Calderdale Council to take action to protect pubs.”
The councillors said they were delighted over the recent scrapping of the beer tax escalator, announced earlier this year in the Chancellor’s spring budget.
“We would like to see a further reduction in beer tax so that people can afford to drink sociably in pubs, rather than buying often larger quantities of cheaper drinks from supermarkets,” said Clr Battye.
“We need to make our pubs viable businesses again or we will lose an important part of our community life.”
The Calderdale movement recently won the support of global folk-rock star Al Stewart, who will play this autumn at Halifax’s Victoria Theatre for the cause.
The concert will raise money to help residents battle for the re-opening of the Holy Well Inn, at Holywell Green.
