It is the latest step in the campaign to save the pub which is under threat from a supermarket take over. A Local List means that the council has accepted that the pub is of value, and will help in preventing planning permission for change of use.
On Monday night the council voted to ‘Locally List’ The Wheatsheaf at the meeting of the Strategic Planning and Transport Committee.
Khan has been campaigning with residents and pub lovers to save the pub from a supermarket take over since July.
Hands off
So far, campaigners have ruled out a Tesco take over, as well as receiving assurances from other supermarket giants Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons, Waitrose and the Co-operative that they would keep their hands off the Wheatsheaf.
Khan also secured assurances owner Enterprise Inns that there are no plans to sell the pub.
However, Khan is continuing to call for the council to make an Article 4 Direction – which would ensure any application to change the use of the property would have to be considered by elected councillors. More than 1,000 locals and campaigners have added their name to the MP’s letter to the Council, and the application will be considered by councillors in the Town Hall in November.
“I am very pleased that our request to have the Wheatsheaf ‘Locally Listed’ has been successful,” said Khan, who is also the shadow minister for London. “This is another step on the ladder to securing the future of the Wheatsheaf as a pub for generations to come. Although this is not a cast-iron solution, it will help protect the pub should it face redevelopment.
“This latest success in the fight to save the Wheatsheaf shows the Council is taking our campaign seriously. We now need one big final push from the campaign and local residents to make Wandsworth Council issue an Article 4 Direction for the pub and then the thousands of local residents and users of the Wheatsheaf can share a joint sigh of relief.”