Online Petitions Can Be very Affective....You don't always need massive support, just a good campaign.

A lot of drivers I've spoke to recently, seem to have no faith in online petitions, saying you need to get hundreds of thousands of signatures for anyone to take you seriously. 

The reply below from Westminster City Council, proves all the doubting Thomas's wrong.

Look at the result achieved by just 252 caring local residents. 

Dear Xxxxxx

Re: Response to Petition – ‘Rebuild Carlton Tavern’ 

I am writing to you as lead petitioner in response to the petition received entitled ‘Rebuild Carlton Tavern.’ The petition has now closed for the
collection of signatures and received 252 signatures in total.

You will be pleased to know that the Council’s Planning Committee resolved on the 5th May 2015 that an enforcement notice be issued requiring the rebuilding of the Carlton Tavern Public House.

The enforcement notice was subsequently served on all persons known to have an interest in the land on 19th June 2015. The enforcement notice requires the following:

“Rebuild The Carlton Tavern Public House, to match in facsimile the building as it stood immediately prior to its demolition on 8th April 2015, in conformity with the detailed architectural descriptions as to building materials, plan form, exterior and interior attached to this Notice, and in conformity with the photographs attached for the purposes of Illustration.” 

Prior to the enforcement notice taking effect, an appeal was submitted to the Secretary of State for the Department of Communities and Local
Government. The City Council is currently waiting on the start date for the appeal and confirmation as to how the appeal will be heard. The City Council has though specifically requested that the appeal be heard by way of Public Inquiry to enable some local residents to attend and make representations. 

There is also an extant appeal against the City Council’s decision to refuse planning permission on 13th January 2015 for the following development:

“Demolition of existing public house and redevelopment to provide a building comprising of basement, ground and four upper floors to provide a public house (Class A4) at ground floor and basement level and 10 residential units from basement to fourth floor levels; associated landscaping works and cycle parking.”

It is highly likely that the two appeals will be co-joined and determined jointly although we are awaiting confirmation from the Planning Inspectorate on this point.

Given that an appeal has now been submitted against the enforcement notice, the requirements of the notice are held in abeyance pending determination of the appeal. Once the appeal start date has been confirmed, the City Council will be consulting widely to enable the local community the opportunity to make representations regarding the appeal.

The City Council shares the local communities concerns and is committed to doing all that it can, within the constraints of the statutory framework we are obliged to observe, to get the Carlton Tavern Public House rebuilt in facsimile.   

Yours sincerely


JOHN WALKER 
DIRECTOR OF PLANNING

And now on to Baker Street!
If you haven't already done so, please take a minute to sign the Baker Street Petition.

Clink link below and use the town hall post code 

SW1E 6QP

http://petitions.westminster.gov.uk/bakerstreet/