According to CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale) there are 13 pubs permanently closing each week across the UK. Every time one shuts down, a piece of community life goes with it, so we need to campaign to ensure that the Wheatsheaf in Tooting Bec doesn't become just another statistic.
That's why when Dan heard that the Wheatsheaf's owners have put the site up for sale, Dan immediately contacted out local branch of CAMRA and researched options to protect the pub. The most immediate action we can take is to get the pub listed as a Community Asset, so Dan has formed a local community body - the Tooting Wheatsheaf Supporters - and submitted an application on its behalf to Wandsworth Council. All users of the Wheatsheaf are members of the Supporters, so this is a true community grouping through which everyone can have their say!
If successful, the Community Asset listing will ensure that the owners of the Wheatsheaf keep us informed of their sale efforts. It also buys us time to seek an alternative to the sale of the pub and conversion into a supermarket or block of flats. So, simultaneously, Southwest London CAMRA has made an Article 4 application to the Council which would prevent the pub's use being change. This will take longer to achieve, and is more difficult too, but we hope that the Community Asset listing maximise our chances of success.
