WEST Midlands Euro MPs James Carver and Bill Etheridge are set to launch a Save Our Pubs campaign after the News revealed the future of a number of borough pubs has been plunged into uncertainty.

UKIP MEP James Carver, who is standing as a Parliamentary candidate in Stourbridge, says the loss of financially viable pubs would be a bitter blow for the communities they serve.

Mr Carver previously welcomed news that Dudley Council planning chiefs had rejected plans to turn the Gigmill Pub in Norton into a convenience store.

But now the futures of 11 pubs across Stourbridge, Halesowen and Dudley areas – including The Hare and Hounds in Wollescote, The Round of Beef in Cradley and The Bird in Hand in Oldswinford - could be affected by property company NewRiver Retail's plans to demolish a series of old boozers and replace them with Co-op stores or to build retail outlets on neighbouring pub car parks.

Mr Carver, West Midlands MEP Bill Etheridge and fellow borough UKIP party activists have vowed to launch a major Save Our Pubs campaign to help save hostelries where last orders could be called.

As part of the initiative - thousands of Save Our Pubs leaflets calling for the preservation of financially viable public houses will be distributed.

Mr Carver said: “It is great news that planners have rejected the plans for the Gigmill. It is a popular pub and serves the local community well.

“I am, however, deeply concerned by moves to create a string of Co-operative stores on the car parks of pubs such as the Old Court House Hotel in Kingswinford and the Hare And Hounds in Wollescote.

“The bulldozing of the Bird in Hand would be a major, bitter blow for the area. Our Save Our Pubs campaign will send out the message that UKIP will continue to support financially viable locals – as we have demonstrated in the case of the Seven Stars in Sedgley.”

Bill Etheridge MEP, UKIP’s Parliamentary candidate for Dudley North, said: “Over the last couple of years alone the West Midlands has witnessed the loss of hundreds of local pubs.

“It is time to put local communities before profit. I call on people to join our Save Our Pubs campaign.”

Councillor Paul Brothwood, UKIP’s group leader on Dudley Council and the party’s Parliamentary candidate for Dudley South, said: “UKIP successfully pushed through a motion in Dudley Council, whereby the local authority will only permit the change of use or redevelopment of a public house after an assessment.

“It is time to make a stand and, through our new Save Our Pubs campaign, we aim to do just that.”

Dean Perks, UKIP´s Parliamentary candidate for Halesowen and Rowley Regis, added: "It's disappointing that breweries are taking the option to sell off a valuable British institution in the local pub rather than be innovative.

"We have many local shops already and these big chains are not only taking away our local pubs but closing many local small businesses. UKIP will fight hard to protect our local pubs and small businesses from these supermarket chains."

NewRiver said the plans were currently in the pre-application stage and that members of the community would be kept informed.