Published: Wednesday, 15th July, 2009 11:00am
Reeling in support for saving The Jolly Anglers
by Rose Harland
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CAMPAIGNERS are raising a glass to The Jolly Anglers tomorrow (Thursday) at a wake outside the shut pub.
As revealed in last week's Chronicle, the agent for the pub's new owners has confirmed that its former owner, Enterprise Inns, imposed a restrictive covenant barring it from use as a pub after the sale on June 19.
Community members and politicians from across the parties are fighting the order, and the Midweek and its sister paper, The Reading Chronicle, are inviting readers to fill in slips to add to a petition.
Tory Reading East MP Rob Wilson met 20 campaigners outside the pub in Newtown on Thursday last week and said: "We can't afford as a town, as a nation, to continue to allow post offices, pubs and other local community facilities to wither and die."
Mr Wilson said he had been in touch with Ted Tuppen, chief executive of Enterprise Inns, and the estate agents and is hoping to speak to the new owners.
He added: "I think we have a real chance of turning the situation around, partly because of Reading Borough Council's leisure planning policy and partly because there is a coalition of local community and political support that has come together."
Labour's candidate for Mr Wilson's seat, Anneliese Dodds, added: "The turnout here shows we are keeping the pressure up and still trying to get the pub back working as a resource for the community."
Regular Dave King added: "I want to see it reopened - every time I come in there is always someone to talk to and have a beer with. There are a lot of friendly people here."
The protests are backed by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and Phil Gill, from the Reading and Mid Berkshire branch, said: "Pubs are here to support the local community and this is one that did that very well."
The wake was originally scheduled for Saturday, July 11, but is now at 7.30pm tomorrow (Thursday) outside the pub in Kennetside. Join the Facebook group "Reopen The Jolly Anglers" at http://tinyurl.com/jollyanglers and see www.readingchronicle.co.uk for updates and to have your say.
