Council blocks pub owner from giving customers free cab rides home – despite charitable cause

Mr Hartfield, who previously owned a black cab garage, took over the Smarden business from his daughter and launched the community-led initiative in November.

While customers do not pay for the service, they are encouraged to make a donation to charity instead.

So far, the local pub, owned by Garden of England brewer Shepherd Neame, has collected just under £7,000 for the MND Association.

However, his generosity was stopped in its tracks after Ashford Borough Council raised the alarm and banned the act of kindness because the pub was "benefitting" from it.

As a result, the Ashford local felt forced to suspend the service "just in case".

GB News host Stephen Dixon appeared shocked by the ban, with co-host Anne Diamond equally baffled by the council's move.

"Giving them a lift home and you're not charging them for it... Well, how on earth can that be a problem?" Stephen questioned.

Explaining it was to do with licensing laws, Mr Hartfield added: "I'm not charging, it's just going to a charity. A few of the customers will have to walk home now.

"It's a shame because there's no lights on the street. There's a lot of road closures around here at the moment. So people come around blind bends.

"You don't know who's standing there," he warned.

Anne was also flabbergasted by the news, blasting how publicans' lives were already suffering under Labour.

The host said: "Now there's another thing that seems to be up against publicans and landlords. It's just making life more difficult for you."

Now, Mr Hartfield is looking to take action against the move in a bid to save the town's community spirit, with one of the local customers set to step up to advocate for the pub owner.

Stephen added: "But that's the interesting thing about it. You're fostering community spirit, and that's the whole point of what you're trying to do.

"And it's what pubs are renowned for. It's why we need to save them. It's all about community spirit and cohesion."

The landlord lamented over now being unable to raise funds to donate to a charity for motor neurone disease.

He told the People's Channel the move "really hit home" with a much-loved local's mother having the debilitating disease.

Sympathising, Stephen fumed: "It's rotten that you're having to fight for the right to do a bit of good, isn't it? Utterly mad."

GB News has approached Ashford Borough Council for comment.

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