A Plaid Cymru Senedd Member has criticised the Labour Government for a “cynical” policy U-turn on the introduction of Community Right-to-Buy legislation.
Peredur Owen Griffiths has highlighted the Labour Government’s sudden change-of-heart as it approaches a Senedd election it is widely tipped to lose.
There have been calls on the Labour Government in Wales to bring in rights for communities to purchase assets such as pubs or halls whenever they come up for sale ever since Westminster introduced such legislation 15 years ago.
The Scottish Government has also introduced similar - but stronger - legislation for communities to prevent their assets being sold to the highest bidder.
Peredur has asked the Labour Government to deliver parity for people in Wales on previous occasions but, up until now, no interest has been shown.
Peredur used the example of a much loved and missed pub in his region - The Hollybush pub in Draethen - as an example of an asset that could be saved by the community if they had this legislation.
He said: “Star Pubs, which own the building, have an interested buyer after years of stasis, and they have assured locals that the sale is still progressing for use as a pub.
“Locals, who banded together to establish a campaign to save the pub and start a crowdfunder to buy it, are not 100 per cent confident in such assurances, as the potential buyer is yet to make contact.
“Do you regret not introducing a community right-to-buy legislation in Wales, as outlined by my colleague Luke Fletcher in his economy paper, 'Making Wales Work: Plaid Cymru's New Economic Plan', which would empower our communities and its people to save such key assets as the Holybush pub in Draethen?”
In reply, Rebecca Evans Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, said her government would “be very much interested” in considering Community Right to Buy.
Afterwards, Peredur said: “Labour have had decades in power to deliver these protections for our communities. They are now lagging 15 years behind the community legislation introduced in England.
“For them to suddenly start showing interest in the legislation when we are less than four months away from a Senedd election is somewhat opportunistic and cynical.
“It is a fair assumption to make that Labour will be including community right-to-buy legislation in their forthcoming Senedd manifesto but this will not wash with anyone as they have had ample opportunity to deliver it but have instead left communities in Wales disempowered.”