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.


Get regular news updates by:

Wimbledon Times: Facebook  Liking our Facebook page

Wimbledon Times: Twitter  Following us on Twitter

...or click here to receive a daily e-mail news bulletin.