June Newsletter
The St Helier Pub Group
Formerly The Campaign for the Morden Tavern June 2012
Public Hearing - 1st August
NEW DEADLINE 10th July 2012
The St Helier Pub Group and The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) submited over 1,100 letters of objection to the planning appeal by Reef Estates to build shops and flats on the Morden Tavern. As a result of this huge response by the St Helier and Merton community the Planning Inspectorate has agreed to hold a public hearing in to the Morden Tavern affair here in Morden on;
Wednesday 1st August 2012
Letters have been circulated by Merton Council advising of the pending hearing and giving a further extension for anyone to register their objections until 10th July 2012. This is a great success on the path to saving the last public house on our estate and enables residents to have their voice heard.
Please keep writing!
Anyone can register their objection to the plans, please go directly to the Planning Inspectorate comments page quoting Planning Appeal APP/T5720/A/12/2172973 in the subject line:
http://www.pcs.planningportal.gov.uk/pcsportal/ViewCase.asp?caseid=2172973&coid=2162696
Click on the ‘Comment on this case’ link at the bottom (not the LPA one)
In the new form that opens select ‘Interested party / person’ from the drop down list.
- that Morden needs a pub;
- the planned buildings are too dense and high
- the plans will compromise a locally listed building removing its important setting
- there has been a lack of consultation with the community by all parties
- contravenes local and national planning policies
- what the closure of St Helier's last pub has meant for you;
- how important it is for St Helier's sense of community that it retains a public house;
- this would be a community hub / social centre
It does not need to be overly long, but the Inspectorate will consider each one in its deliberations. We need to get over how strongly residents feel about this and that having a pub is core to St Helier's sense of community.
Campaigners’ Visits
The SHPG is visiting households in St Helier both to explain the aims of our campaign and to facilitate residents’ objections to the planning appli-cation. So far we have visited over 1,000 homes.
We have been delighted at the overwhelmingly positive response from residents to the campaign. We will continue to make these visits up to the 10th July 2012 deadline. We welcome the ideas and comments made by the St Helier resi-dents and your eagerness to support the campaign.
Without the support, of the St Helier Communi-ty, this campaign would have failed. You should be proud of the fight you are putting up and developers will no longer look at St Helier as a ‘soft target’.
What happens next?
The inspectorate will continue to accept submissions via its website or post by anyone who is interested in the future of the to the Morden Tavern until 10th July 2012. Its important that we keep up the momentum to refuse the developer permission to build on the last historic public house in St Helier.
The inspectorate will then read and consider all the submissions before the public hearing on 1st August. The hearing will usually last one day and various parties will be allowed to make verbal submis-sions in support of their written ones. Anyone can go along and listen and we are expecting a large number of local residents to attend. We will of course update the community once the location is announced. The Inspectorate will also make a site visit before going away to consider their decision. This may take several weeks.
Merton's Rotting Asset—update
The Morden Tavern is a locally listed investment property owned by Merton Council on the behalf of borough residents, Reef Estates hold a 19 year lease. In 2010 Reef Estates closed The Morden Tavern after 70 years of business so that it could make planning application for housing on the site of a closed pub.
Reef Estates have failed to take care of the property and soon after, squatters moved in, closely followed by thieves who stripped lead from the roof, resulting in water damage. In addition, it is believed that leaking pipes have also caused exten-sive flooding in the cellar, potentially damaging the building’s foundations.
In the two years in which The Tavern has been closed, the building has been left to rot. But this is not a building owned by Reef, but by Merton Council on our behalf. WE own this property, but as each month goes by, its value and appearance deteriorates further, costing us money.
Reef Estates has an obligation under the lease to maintain the property in the condition in which they found it. Merton Council has a duty to ensure that Reef sticks to the terms of the lease. The Council has not made any checks or written any reports on the condition of this property in the last 2 years. We estimate that it could cost Reef more than £100,000 to put The Tavern back in the condition it was 2 years ago.
Councillor Dennis Pearce has been seeking advice from the councils legal department as to how Merton can protect this public asset from neglect. The SHPG is currently lobbying for all party support from Merton’s councillors to encourage the relevant council officers to pursue the developer in carrying out the legally required maintenance.
Cooperative Plans
The SHPG continues to receive enquiries into its Cooperative ownership plans for the Morden Tavern. We are keen to keep the opportunity to invest open to potential investors, especially those who live in or near Morden or St Helier. Small groups may purchase a single share between them.
When the time comes to invest, we will need to move fast, but will not ask anyone to part with cash before then. The minimum investment will be £250, and in return you will get to own a part of your community and an annual share of the profits. If you would consider an investment, or would like to be kept informed, please email us at:
tavern.development@virginmedia.com
Object via Post
Alternatively you can object by Post to;
Planning Inspectorate, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PN
Please quote the property address and case number;
Planning Reference:
APP/T5720/A/12/2172973
Property address:
Morden Tavern 144 Central Road St. Helier Morden SM4 5RL
You need to send three copies of your letter for it to be accepted.
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