Village pub's future in doubt after flats plan approved (From Wimbledon Guardian)
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Popular Wimbledon Village pub Brewery Tap's future in doubt after flats plan approved
7:40am Thursday 21st April 2011 in News
The Brewery Tap pub, in Wimbledon village
A major pub chain has succeeded in controversial plans to alter a popular pub after to the dismay of customers and the leader of the council.
The Brewery Tap pub, in Wimbledon village's High Street, was granted planning permission to build flats on its first and second floors and remove the landlord’s accommodation on April 14.
Concern about the plans has led to the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) to launch a petition with over 1,000 signatures from residents who fear the pub will close down.
Among those who complained about the plans, put forward by Enterprise Inns, was Merton Council leader Stephen Alambritis, who hissed at the very mention of the pub operator at the planning committee meeting at Morden Civic Centre.
Coun Alambritis said the committee should consider the council’s planning policy L16, which provides for the protection of public houses against what he described as plans to turn the Brewery Tap into a wine bar.
He said: “We need to take a strict interpretation of L16, which is there to protect our traditional public houses.
“It is not there to introduce wine bars but traditional pubs.”
But a spokesman for JSA Planning, on behalf of Enterprise Inns, said there was no reason why the Brewery Tap could not continue as a pub once redeveloped.
He said: “There is no evidence that the pub will become poorly managed and the proposals will not change the use as a public house. “
Do you fear for the future of the Brewery Tap? Leave a comment below, call 020 8722 6335 or email: ooakes@london.newsquest.co.uk.
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Campaign for Morden Tavern says...
3:34pm Thu 21 Apr 11
It is heartening to read of Mr Stephen Alambritis’s passionate support for the Council’s Pub Protection Policy (L16) at the recent planning meeting for the Brewery Tap in Wimbledon, which was ultimately unsuccessful in protecting this much loved pub (WG 21/04/11).
However his speech might have been more convincing if he was more vocal in making Council officers adhere to the L16 policy when it comes to the Morden Tavern in St Helier. Just why has he been so silent on this issue? Is it the £2.3M the Council could make from the deal or is it that Wimbledon residents get more attention from the Council than St Helier residents?
Mr Alambritis could very easily save the Morden Tavern. He only has to call-in the decision to sell the Freehold to Reef Estates limited, now under investigation by the LGO, and he would clearly see that Council officers have failed to follow clear asset disposal policy and serve the best interests of the St Helier residents and the wider Merton community. Full details of the Council’s behaviour are available on Facebook: ‘Campaign for Morden Tavern’
Hiss all you like Mr Alambritis, but now do something about this shameful situation for St Helier, where the Morden Tavern is the only pub we had.
Yours sincerely
David Smith
Chair, Campaign for Morden Tavern