THE MP for Torfaen has written to Wetherspoon after the chain announced it was putting up a Pontypool pub up for sale, potentially placing 40 jobs at risk.

Nick Thomas-Symonds intervened after the chain said it planned to sell 34 pubs in the UK, including the John Capel Hanbury in Pontypool.

The town centre pub, said to be at the heart of the community, remains open at the moment.

But Mr Thomas-Symonds said: “The pub is well-used, so it was something of a surprise to hear this unfortunate news.

“It is much valued by the community and would be a real loss for the town centre.

“Of course, as the local MP, I am also always keen to do whatever I can to try to safeguard local jobs.

“So I wanted to write to JD Wetherspoon to ask about the cause of them putting their Pontypool site on the market and to see if anything could be done to dissuade them from leaving Pontypool.

“I hope they agree to meet with me as soon as possible. Of course, As a supporter of the Fair Pint campaign, I want to support all good pubs in Torfaen, including the excellent independent local pubs up and down our valley.”