A POPULAR pub near Lutterworth and Rugby is among a group of treasured community assets given listing protection as Assets of Community Value (ACV).
The Chequers in Swinford is among the assets newly designated by Harborough District Council (HDC).
Others include fellow pubs The White Hart in South Kilworth, the Fox and Goose in Illston on the Hill and The Cherry Tree at Catthorpe, as well as Thorpe Field in Church Langton.
HDC’s Deputy Leader and planning spokesman Coun Simon Galton said: “Communities everywhere have places they consider to be important for a variety of reasons including social, cultural, sporting or recreational interests.
“I am pleased, therefore, that we have been able to list these valuable assets helping to safeguard their future.”
ACVs, also known as The Community Right to Bid, allows communities and parish councils to nominate buildings or land for listing protection as an asset of community value.
An asset can be listed if its principal use furthers their community’s social well-being or social interests and is likely to do so in the future.
If a listed asset goes up for sale, communities can ‘stop the clock’ for up to six months, giving the opportunity to get together and raise the finances to bid to buy it.
Since 2012 Harborough District Council has designated a number of assets as ACVs that meet the criteria including fields, school buildings, allotments, sports fields, village halls, shops and post offices.
Visit www.harborough.gov.uk/community-assets for more information and to nominate asset of community value.
