ALL HANDS TO THE PUMP Southwark News 1 August 2013 Oliver Pugh [email protected] As another two pubs in Bermondsey are threatened with closure today the News launches an ambitious campaign to save the borough’s great boozers from “greedy developers”. Backed by Simon Hughes MP – who was already fighting for the best in the north of the borough – we are calling for all Southwark residents to name any treasured public houses they fear could be sold off. The appeal comes hot on the heels of the Walworth Society’s bold move to get all pubs in SE17 listed as community assets – a status that gives locals first dibs to buy the property if it is up for sale and six months to raise the cash. Bermondsey locals called for the News to help fight for Southwark’s most cherished inns after two long-standing venues were offered up for sale by brewery Enterprise Inns. Freeholds of both The Grange (above to right) in Grange Road and The St James’ Tavern (above bottom right) in St James’ Road are now understood to be up for sale – with no restrictions on their future use. Though the Setchell estate tenants’ and residents’ association and the local Lib Dems were quick to get The Grange listed as a community asset this week, the St James’ Tavern could still be lost in a quick sale. Bermondsey stalwart Phil Burkett said residents who valued their watering holes should not roll over and let them disappear. “I have only just found out about imminent closure of The St James Tavern and I am shocked that another Bermondsey pub might close and become flats,” he said. “Even though my family own the seafood stall outside the pub, this is not about our stall, as we could move the business to another location tomorrow. “This is about another Bermondsey pub being lost to the soulless, money-grabbing property developers, who have no love for Bermondsey, its history, community or the local people. “If Enterprise Inns had no offers from anyone taking over the lease and making a go of a good, family pub, then fair enough I would accept that the pub must go and the building sold. But is this really the case?” He added: “Let’s start by making the pub a community asset by getting twenty five signatures from local people who are on the electoral role and also get local tenants’ associations who want to ‘Save The Jamo’ too.” “This really is the last chance for saving the pub. We either roll over or we fight it. I know what I am going to do.” The grass-roots battle to protect pubs was given extra impetus by the success of the campaign to save the Ivy House in Nunhead from conversion into flats. That group managed to not only get the pub listed as a community asset, but crucially raised £144,500 from locals who are now shareholders in the first community run pub in Britain. Now Simon Hughes MP has launched a petition to save all Southwark pubs from closure. “Our local pubs are absolutely fundamental to the character and quality of life in Southwark and in our capital city,” he said. “Unless all Southwark pubs are classified as valuable community assets, we are in danger of running behind the action if we only respond as and when we hear facts and rumours about individual pubs which might include plans to end their public house use.” Mr Hughes added: “It’s really good that the Walworth society are going to take the lead in protecting us from losing more valued pubs in SE17 to greedy developers. “I’m pleased that my colleagues have been able to get The Grange public house confirmed on the list of assets of community value as of today, July 30, and we’re now working with the Jamo to see if they can be registered too. “Please let Southwark News or me know of any local pubs in the north of the borough you think definitely need to be protected because the more good pubs we can have in a community like ours the happier and more successful the place can be.” Mr Hughes has already been in talks with the Oxford and Bermondsey Club to see if its members would be willing to replicate the Walworth Society’s plans to get all pubs in the north of the borough listed as community assets. Commenting on the sale of the St James’ Tavern, a spokesperson for Enterprise Inns said: “As part of our ongoing business, we do from time to time identify a pub which may no longer have a long-term future in our estate. “After careful consideration, the decision was taken to offer the St James Tavern freehold for sale, and the property will soon be on the open market with no restrictions on future use and the benefit of its premises licence.” Any resident who feels that their local pub is under threat should email [email protected] or call 0207 2315 258
Posted on: Thu, 01 Aug 2013 10:24:32 +0000
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