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It is with an great sense of relief that I can report that the issue of pub losses is right at the front of the political agenda, finally. CAMRA and two local authorities made presentations to MPs of the Parliamentary Save the Pub Group, chaired by Greg Mulholland on March 5th. Last week Mike Benner and I as well as several councillors spoke to a gathering hosted by AM Tom Copley at City Hall about the need for local planning policy to protect pubs specifically. Islington has the most robust pub protection policy in London and is a model for others to follow. AM Steve O'Connell was responsible for a report into the threats to London's pubs and has secured backing on Tuesday from the Mayor for the London Plan to contain more robust regional planning protection for pubs. There are half as many pubs now in many London boroughs as there were 20 years ago, due for the most part, to the high value of land for development, mainly residential schemes. The bloodbath has to stop and politicians are ready now to make that happen. Dale Ingram, CAMRA London Region Pubs Protection Adviser (and historic buildings & planning consultant).