THEY are the locals rallying together in a bid to save their local.

Campaigners in Southampton have joined forces to try to buy their community pub and stop it becoming a McDonald’s.

Residents from Thornhill and Harefield, backed by their MP, hope to use new legal powers to buy The Bittern and keep it open.

The Daily Echo has revealed that owners Punch Taverns are in discussions with the fast food giant about selling the site.

 

 

Punch Taverns has confirmed it has put the 1930s pub in Thornhill Park Road on the market, but both companies are remaining tightlipped about their plans.

Twenty-one pub regulars and community members have asked the city council to list the pub as a community asset under the new Localism Act.

If they are successful, the pub will have to be sold on the open market, which will give the community a chance to raise the money to buy it.

The group has already written to Punch Taverns asking them to open negotiations.

Their campaign has been backed by Southampton Itchen MP John Denham, who has fought against the closure of local pubs.

He said: “This is the first attempt there has been in the south of England for people who don’t want their pub to be turned into a minisupermarket or fast food outlet to say “let’s buy it”.

“We have lost nearly all of the pubs in this area over the past few years – there are very few left in an area which used to have lots.

“If we lose this pub, we won’t get it back.”

The group launched its campaign with an event at the pub last night.

Group spokesman Glen McInnes said: “We know we would have to pay the market price and run it as a good business. But we believe there are a lot of people who would be prepared to make a modest investment in the community company that would run the pub.”

Pub-goer Mark Young, from Thornhill, said: “If it closes, where is anybody meant to go? This pub is very important to the community. We all put 1,000 per cent into this pub for one reason – we love it.”

The Rev Duncan Jennings, from nearby St Christopher’s Church in Thornhill, is backing the campaigners.

He said: “This pub is an important part of our community.

“The pub is rather like the church as it acts as a community hub, and is a place which people feel they can turn to.”

The pub will hold a charity day in aid of the Hampshire Autistic Society on May 12.

A motorbike ride to the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum will start at 9.30am, while there will be a family fun day at 2.30pm.

For more information or to donate raffle prizes, email littlediddyno@ gmail.com.