Pub cheers as its business rates are cut to zero

Members of Wycombe District Council's policy and resources committee decided to cut the rates at the Golden Cross, Wycombe Road, Saunderton, at a meeting on Monday.

Licensee Mark Malin, 34, said he was very pleased with the committee's decision.

He said: "Being recognised as part of the community is important to me. We are the focal point of the community.

As well as keeping its regulars happy at the bar, the pub acts as a village hall and venue for local functions.

It has also put play equipment in the garden for local children to use even when the pub is closed, because there is no park or playing field nearby.

The village has no shop, post office or cash point so the pub sells cards and stamps and will cash cheques and give cash back.

Villagers away at work all day can also arrange for deliveries to be made at the pub for them to collect later.

Mr Malin is a committee member of the Millennium Fund which pays for trips and parties and local fundraising events are held in the pub. This has enabled the pub to buy marquees to use in the garden.

When local councils agree to give rural rate relief the council pays for a quarter and the rest comes from the Government.

The total savings for the Golden Cross will be £899.78 a year.

The original proposal was that the Golden Cross rates should be halved, but members decided they should go the whole hog, after a proposal from Cllr Alex Collingwood (Con, Marlow North).

Councillor for Bledlow-cum-Saunderton Bruce Holland pressed for increasing the relief to 100 per cent.

He said: "If we were to lose this facility for the community in Saunderton, there would be absolutely nothing for miles."

The committee also considered a request from the Red Lion at Longwick for rates to be cut by half but decided not to do this yet.

It will be left until after May when the new council structure of leader and cabinet comes into place.