Pictures of the Future Site

Here is the view of the bar / restaurant extension, which we have been denied, yet again an ACV for. Handy seats for local teenagers to hang out on drinking there tins from Sainsbury’s. Note that the buildings here as almost as tall as the Tavern themselves.

...and here the trees block any possible comparison.

Note how they make the new buildings look shorter than the existing houses.

St Helier Now Has A Little Less History

Sainsbury's application for 3 neon signs on the Morden Tavern site

Sainsbury’s have applied to erect three neon signs on the historic Morden Tavern. To add insult to injury they want to move the pub sign further up the site and place one of their own signs on it. The developer promised to enhance the look and feel of the Morden Tavern, but instead will turn it into an eyesore and destroy the look of the building. 

Sainsbury’s will be open from 6am to 11pm everyday – these lights will be on every evening, creating light pollution and adding to the light falling on properties surrounding the pub. We would like to see the traditional signage illumination used to retain the historic feel of this building, which was specifically built for our community's benefit. 

Please support our objections to this planning change by writing or emailing: 

planning.representations@merton.gov.uk

REF: 13/P2866

Nanyaa Ampoma

Development Control 

London Borough of Merton

Merton Civic Centre

London Road

Morden

SM4 5DX

You can include:

1. Application reference number: 13/P2866
2. Your name
3. Your address
4. Planning application description
5. Your comments

Please note that comments submitted to the council cannot be treated as confidential and will be made available for public inspection without exception. This includes your email address if you send an email. 

DEADLINE to object is 18.10.13.

Example email:


To: planning.representations@merton.gov.uk

REF: 13/P2866; APPLICATION FOR ADVERTISEMENT CONSENT FOR THE DISPLAY OF 3 X EXTERNALLY ILLUMINATED FASCIA SIGNS, NON-ILLUMINATED WALL PANEL SIGN, WALL MOUNTED ATM SURROUND, DISABLED SPACE SIGN, TOTEM AND STATUTORY SIGN.

For the attention of Merton Planning Department:

I wish to object to the above planning application for new signage on the Morden Tavern. There is no need for such a bright and intrusive sign, which will damage the look and feel of this locally listed building and cause unnecessary light pollution to the area. I would like to see the existing, 'spotlight' illuminated signage style reproduced to keep the character of this building and maintain the current levels of illumination at the site. There is a proposal on this application to move the pub sign pole. I would like to see it keep its current position on the spot it has had for over 80 years. 

Name: 

Address: 

Date: 

September 2013 Update

Key Facts: 

1. The Morden Tavern development will have houses, flats & some shop units.
2. A bar/pub or restaurant will remain on the site.
3. The Morden Tavern Group hopes to form a co-operative to rent the bar with community shares.
4. There is an approved business plan & many potential investors.
5. The Morden Tavern Group has applied for it to be registered as an ‘Asset of Community Value’. This would enable the community to bid for a unit on the site.
6. St Helier Estate is the only estate in Merton without a community centre.

Please see below for how you can support the ‘Asset of Community Value’ application. 

Support the Morden Tavern Groups’s application to have the Morden Tavern listed as an 'Asset of Community Value'

19/9/13

Please support the Morden Tavern Groups’s application to have the Morden Tavern listed as an Asset of Community Value, (click on the image below if you’d like help). If you live on the St Helier Estate please email all three ward councillors who will be consulted on this application. They are; Maxi Martin, maxi.martin@merton.gov.uk , Dennis Pearce; dennis.pearce@merton.gov.uk and Stan Anderson; stan.anderson@merton.gov.uk.

Please get as many residents on the estate to do the same. If you live in Merton but not in St Helier you can email council officer Howard Joy; howard.joy@merton.gov.uk to register your support. 

You can copy and paste this message into an email: 

I am a St Helier resident and I support the Morden Tavern Group and their application to have the Morden Tavern listed as an asset of community value. Over 450 residents have already signed a petition asking Merton to do this and I feel it is important that you support the wishes of the community you represent.

I look forward to hearing from you on this matter soon.

Regards:

Name:

The St Helier Pub Group always welcomes new members and supporters. If you would like to join or support the St Helier Pub Group, contact us at: Tavern.development@virginmedia.com 

You can also 'like' us on facebook to support our campaign: facebook.com/MordenTavern and follow us on twitter: https://twitter.com/SaveMordenTav 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT 

Watch the Merton Council debate on the Morden Tavern

12/9/13

Merton Council debates the conservative motion regarding Assets of Community Value. The Morden Tavern gets several mentions. Well worth a look; go to 01:35 to 01:52 to watch what happened.

http://www.merton.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/112355

Merton Conservatives's Agenda

10/9/13

Merton Conservatives will be placing a motion before the full council on Wednesday in support of local communities trying to ‘list’ local assets. The Morden Tavern gets a mention.

http://www.merton.gov.uk/democratic_services/w-agendas/w-reports/_9000-9999/9977.pdf

Morden Tavern Group submits application to have the Morden Tavern listed as an 'Asset of Community Value' with 34 signatures

1/9/13

On the 28th of August, the Morden Tavern Group or MTG submitted an application to have the Morden Tavern listed as an Asset of Community Value. The group currently has 34 members who all live on the St Helier Estate and they all signed the application, which only required 21 signatures to make the application legally valid. The St Helier Pub Group offered its support and advice with their application. If accepted it would warrant the community the chance to buy or lease and run the Pub / Bar, which the developer promised to provide as part of their appeal to the planning inspector.

13/8/13 - Morden Tavern 'Asset of Community Value' Refusal notice

13/8/13

Morden Tavern 'Asset of Community Value' Refusal notice 

Merton Council’s reasons for refusing our application to have the Morden Tavern listed as an Asset of Community Value.

Response from Merton Council...

12/8/13

From Merton Council:

Apologies for the delay in replying.
The main reason for the delay was in considering the facts of this case and whether the application satisfies the Localism Act 2011. This consideration has been completed and the decision has been made. A letter has been sent by first class post to the applicant today confirming this decision which is not to list the Morden Tavern.

Why the Morden Tavern should be run as a co-operative pub, owned and run by the community...

Enterprise Inns where the chain that sold the MT Lease to Reef Estates. Reading this you may come to 'understand' why a Freehold pub will make money where a tied one cannot.

http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/investigations/2010/08/working-all-the-hours-for-none.html

25/7/13 - Reef due to start work

25/7/13

St Helier Councillor Maxi Martin told the St Helier Community meeting tonight that Reef will begin development work at the end of August.

452 Signatures on Petition for Registering Morden Tavern as an Asset of Community Value

18/7/13

452 signatures collected on our petition in support of our application to have the MT registered as an ACV. Thank you everyone who signed, your continued support for our campaign is fantastic.

11/7/13 - private meeting with Merton Council Leader Stephen Alambritis

11/7/13

Members of the SHPG and CAMRA attended a private meeting with Merton Council Leader Stephen Alambritis. They pressed the case for Merton Council to register the MT as an Asset of Community Value and for an Article 4 Direction which would ensure that any change of use from A4 Public House would require a planning application. At present pubs can be converted to several other purposes without a planning application, including retail. A Direction would ensure local people have a say before this happens.

Petition to have the Morden Tavern Declared as an 'Asset of Community Value'

24/6/13

Merton Council’s Licencing Committee granted Sainsbury’s plc an off-sales licence for the Morden Tavern site today. The SHPG continues its petition to have the Morden Tavern declared as an ACV which could afford it some protection please sign here:

https://petitions.merton.gov.uk/epetition_core/community/activepetitions

article on 20/6/13 - South London pub campaigners apply for asset of community value status

20/6/13

http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/General-News/South-London-pub-campaigners-apply-for-asset-of-community-value-status

article on 13/6/13 - Campaign launched to keep former Morden Tavern for community

13/6/13

http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/10480119.Campaign_launched_to_keep_Morden_pub_for_community/

Petition link: http://petitions.merton.gov.uk/epetition_core/community/activepetitions

The Assets of Community Value Regulations 2012

The Saint Helier Pub Group has made an application to Morden Council for the Morden Tavern Public House to listed as an Asset of Community Value.

The group have long campaigned to have this community space returned to its rightful place as the centre of our community life to be run by and for the members of the St Helier Community.

If granted by Merton Council the listing of the Morden Tavern Public House would enable the community to have the right to bid on any Freehold or Leasehold associated with this property. There would be a six month period for St Helier residents to draw up such a bid and source the right finance.

The SHPG has made a long and considered study into how such a purchase might be achieved and we believe that a competitive bid can be made on part or the entire Morden Tavern site

We urge residents and all local Politian’s of any persuasion to support our bid for this ACV listing by signing our online petition at:

http://petitions.merton.gov.uk/epetition_core/community/activepetitions

Petition name: ‘Make Morden Tavern an Asset of Community Value’

Press Release - 6/6/13

6/6/13

Press Release

St Helier Pub Group

The Assets of Community Value Regulations 2012

The Saint Helier Pub Group has made an application to Morden Council for the Morden Tavern Public House to listed as an Asset of Community Value. The group have long campaigned to have this community space returned to its rightful place as the centre of our community life to be run by and for the members of the St Helier Community. 

If granted by Merton Council the listing of the Morden Tavern Public House would enable the community to have the right to bid on any Freehold or Leasehold associated with this property. There would be a six month period for St Helier residents to draw up such a bid and source the right finance.

The SHPG has made a long and considered study into how such a purchase might be achieved and we believe that a competitive bid can be made on part or the entire Morden Tavern site

We urge residents and all local Politian’s of any persuasion to support our bid for this ACV listing by signing our online petition: ‘Make Morden Tavern an Asset of Community Value’

Response to Objects of Licence Application

15/5/13

Those people who signed the letters of objection to the licence application on the Tavern site have this week received replies from Merton’s Environment and Regeneration department stating that ‘they cannot accept your objection as valid’. We are seeking legal advice to appeal against their decision. We will keep you updated.