The Trafalgar is at Risk - Again!

Thanks to the hundreds of residents who joined our local Labour campaign to save The Trafalgar Pub earlier this year, we successfully halted plans to demolish our much-loved local pub.  

The Council’s planning team refused the application, recognising the strong objections raised and the pub’s cultural and historic importance to the area.  

But now, the pub is under threat again with the owners submitting an appeal to have the Council’s decision overturned. This takes the decision out of the Council’s hands as it now sits with the national Planning Inspectorate.  

And so, the campaign continues. Local Labour Councillor for Abbey, where the Trafalgar Pub is located, Mike Brunt said:  

“I’m incredibly proud of the residents who joined our campaign to save our local pub. But now we need to get to work again to make our voices heard in this appeal. The Trafalgar is one of the only freehold pubs left in the area and means a great deal to us as a community. It is culturally and historically important, and we believe it should be protected.” 

If you haven’t done so already, it is vital that you add your voice to our petition to save our local pub.  

Please sign and share the petition to protect The Trafalgar Pub: 

Write to the Planning Inspectorate

As part of the appeals process, anybody can write to the Planning Inspectorate to make a representation, and this will be considered by the Inspector when making their decision. It’s important we get as many letters as possible to demonstrate the strength of feeling from the local community.  

Show your support and help us save the Traf via the Appeals Casework Portal:

When submitting your representation, you must quote the appeal reference for it to be considered as part of the decision making process.

The reference is APP/T5720/W/25/3368173

Please note you need to submit your representation before Friday 22 August 2025.

SUGGESTED TEXT:

Dear Planning Inspectorate,  

Ref: APP/T5720/W/25/3368173 

I am writing to oppose the appeal by the applicant on the decision made by Merton Council on planning application 24/P1338 which proposes to demolish a much-loved local pub in our community – The Trafalgar.  

I believe that Merton Council’s Planning Team were right to refuse the application, as it would have led to the loss of historic local pub, which has been correctly identified as a non-designated heritage asset which has historical and cultural significance in our community. 

The Trafalgar is one of the only freehold pubs left in the area, and means a great deal to us as a community. I do not believe that the proposals provide sufficient benefits to outweigh the loss of an important local institution, nor the significant change to local character that the proposed development would result in.  

Best wishes,  

[Your Name] 

Please feel free to amend this to include your own perspective on why it is important we protect this historical and cultural asset in our community.