Notices have been posted in the area around Raynes Park station
asking for signatures to a petition against the opening of a
Wetherspoon's pub on the site of the former Co-Op ; there are also
legal notices on the site itself letting objectors know they can
object to the granting of a licence.

There's no indication of who's organized the petition (though I've
heard it's the Wimbledon Society), but there are supposed to be
copies in B.D.S. Stationers (opposite Boots), Interpretations (308
Worple Road), Kevin Francis Hair (552 Kingston Road) and Barkers
chemists (614 Kingston Road). The petition organizers claim that this
would be a very large pub, like those normally situated in main town
centres, and that there would be problems caused by a lack of parking
and by rowdy drinkers. (Personally, I'd welcome a Wetherspoon's, as
long as it put the Cavern and the Junction out of business !)

You're supposed to give written notice of your objection to the
applicant (Barry Brewster, Wetherspoon House, Central Park, Reeds
Crescent, Watford WD1 1QH) and to the clerk to the licensing justices
(Court House, Alexandra Road, London SW19 7JP), at least seven days
before the hearing (which is scheduled for Monday 11th November).

There are also supposed to be twelve "prestigious luxury apartments"
on this site. I'd much rather see it let on a short-notice lease as a
charity shop so it could easily be turned into a temporary library,
if they ever get round to developing the current library site, but I
suppose that would be far too sensible.

If Wetherspoon's do get their licence, let's start thinking of well-
known (or not so well-known) characters from local history who they
could name the pub after !