Following on from the great local support for Save The Red Lion Campaign from its patron’s the Reverend Susie Williams & local MP the Rt Hon Hugo Swire, as well as many local East Devon District Councillors & our Devon County Councillor Claire Wright, further support became known today.
The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government last week wrote to Hugo Swire MP saying - “I commend the efforts that you and your constituents are making to keep the Red Lion pub open for the community. My Department is keen to support communities who want to save their local pubs”.
The Campaign is looking for similar approach by Punch Taverns, the owner of the Red Lion, in not only word, but in deed. To try to move discussions forward with Punch Taverns the Campaign has today written directly to its Chief Operating Officer Neil Griffiths urging him to facilitate meaningful discussions about the possibility of the Campaign successfully purchasing the pub.
We now wait to see if we will receive a positive response from Punch Tavern’s Chief Operating Officer Neil Griffiths, after all Punch Taverns told the local press in May in response to the creation of the Campaign that it “may explore other options around the future of our less sustainable sites or where they might better fulfil their potential for the local community under different ownership”. Let’s see if Punch Taverns will be as good as their word.
Punch Taverns want to sell the Red Lion. The Campaign wants to buy it. What can be so difficult?
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