Madam, - Rural pubs are shutting down at a rate of more than one a day, according to your edition of February 23rd. The main cause of his disgraceful trend is the mad law that allows a publican to buy a licence in a small village, close the pub and open another one in an urban area. Isn't it time this nonsense was stopped?
A similar pattern is evident in urban areas for different reasons. Historic pubs are increasingly under threat because of the current mania for apartment building. The property bubble will burst, but we here in Finglas will have lost forever pubs such as the Royal Oak (already flattened) and the Drake Inn (under threat).
The solution to both problems is to have planning laws that make it very difficult to change the use of business premises, as in continental Europe. This removes the temptation for speculation and preserves the fabric of village life, urban and rural. - Yours, etc,
TIM O'HALLORAN, Ferndale Road, Dublin 11.