A MULTI-MILLION pound Government pledge could safeguard the future of pubs, according to a senior councillor.

Cllr Bernie Attridge, chairman of Flintshire Council’s licensing committee, said the £4 million to be ploughed into supporting community pubs could be vital.

It is not yet known how much of the funding will be allocated to the region, but Cllr Attridge said it was a crucial step in the right direction.

He added: “The pubs are struggling. Everyone is fighting and trying to do something different to attract need to be done, but this will go some way to help.”

In recent months The Ship and The Cross Keys in Connah’s Quay, along with the Carlton Club in Shotton have all closed their doors.

However, Phil Stevenson, manager of Wetherspoons in Mold, said more needed to be done, including slashing the duty on alcohol.

He told the Leader: “Any initiative that helps pubs is a bonus and while £4 million isn’t a lot of money it’s a step in the right direction.

“One of the biggest issues for pubs is the fact that alcohol is so highly dutied.

“We are forced to charge considerably more than supermarkets so the gap between the two sounds enormous, when it never used to be so large.

“Until they start looking at the amount of duty that’s enforced then conditions will worsen.”