NEW life could be breathed into the locations of three former Huddersfield pubs as a list of closures continues to grow.

Planning applications have been made to change the use of former alehouses in Upper Hopton, Waterloo and Crosland Moor.

The news comes as trade officials report a slowdown in the number of pubs shutting down.

But latest casualties in Huddersfield include The Green Dragon in Emley and The Black Bull in Shepley.

More than 50 pubs a week were shutting last year, but new figures suggest the number is down slightly to 39.

Plans submitted to Kirklees Council suggest the Freemasons Arms at the junction of Hopton Hall Lane and Bellstring Lane, Upper Hopton, could be made into housing.

An application has been made to convert the former pub and alter it to four homes with car parking and gardens.

Homes could also be created at the Tandem Inn, at Wakefield Road, Waterloo. Planners have received an application to change the ground floor of the pub into a hair and beauty salon and create two one-bedroom apartments and one two-bedroom apartment.

An application to demolish The Junction pub at Manchester Road at Crosland Moor Bottom has also been submitted to Kirklees Council.

The former pub at the junction of Blackmoorfoot Road and Manchester Road would be knocked down to create a retail development with restaurant and hot food takeaway and other accommodation.

The plans also include new access to allow traffic on to Manchester Road and an extension to the existing car park.

Decisions on the plans will be made by officers within the next few weeks.

The plans come as concerns continue about the closure of pubs nationwide.

The Save Our Pubs (SOS) forum of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) encourages people to discuss ways to support struggling watering holes.

Figures have suggested that one in eight pubs could close by 2012.

Julian Hough, chairman of Camra’s pub campaigns committee, said: “Camra is brimming with knowledgeable people, young and old, who have active experience of campaigning against the closure of pubs.

“With the aid of advisory literature and our online forum, we have created an ideal environment for people to share ideas and devise effective campaigning strategies to promote and protect Britain’s 57,000 pubs.

“Due to gloomy economic forecasts, this will no doubt be a pivotal year for pub campaigning.”

Pubs are now closing at a rate of 39 a week, down on the 52 a week closure rate in the first half of 2009, according to the latest survey from the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA).

A net total of 1,013 pubs shut their doors for the last time between July and December 2009, with the loss of over 10,000 jobs in local communities across Britain. A total of 2,365 pubs closed during the whole of 2009.

Lee Le Clercq, North of England secretary for the Beer & Pub Association, said: “The UK economy may be edging out of recession, but times remain very tough for pubs.”