Petition launched to save the Green Dragon

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Following the closure and boarding up of the Green Dragon in Winchmore Hill, a petition has been launched calling on Enfield Council to not allow the building to be converted into flats, retail or any other alternative use.

green dragonThe Green Dragon in its most recent guise: English pub downstairs, Thai restaurant upstairsThe online petition, initiated by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), says that saving the building as a public house is important because

There has been a Green Dragon pub on or near this site since 1726 and we feel very strongly that this traditional part of Winchmore Hill life should be maintained. When properly managed the pub was a vibrant centre of the community filled with laughter and conversation and we believe that with proper ownership and management it can be again. The building is an important historical landmark which identifies Winchmore Hill to those passing through, and as such prevents the area from being just another faceless section of Green Lanes. The pub has survived wars and countless other times of great difficulty and poverty over nearly 300 years, yet we are in danger of allowing it to be destroyed now just because of a few years of poor turnover and somebody's desire to make a quick profit. Please help us to save The Green Dragon and ensure its future at the heart of our community where Winchmore Hill residents can gather together to laugh, talk, eat, drink and celebrate as so many generations have before.

In addition to the petition, it is hoped to register the Green Dragon as an Asset of Community Value.  However, even if successful, this might only help temporarily delay any change of use or demolition, as current planning legislation does not provide any particular protection to pubs.  CAMRA has in fact been running a campaign to make it more difficult to convert or demolish pubs, which seems to have met with some support within the government and Parliament.

Currently Southgate District Civic Trust is applying to have the Fox in Palmers Green registered as a community asset.  Like the Green Dragon, this is a building that, quite apart from its function, because of its size, apperance and position is a notable part of the local townscape.  However, unlike the Green Dragon, the Fox is still open and rumours that it was being sold appear to have been unfounded.

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Posts in discussion: Petition launched to save the Green Dragon
PGC Webmaster posted a reply
#968
20 Feb 2015 23:21
On their their Facebook page the Save the Green Dragon campaign is reporting that both the freehold and the leasehold now belong to a company which specialises in buying failing businesses. It has reportedly not yet decided what to do with the building, but the fact that it is not a pub company is obviously worrying.

The campaign organisers are planning the following actions:
  • Try to arrange a meeting with this company to discuss their plans and make our case.
  • Speak to local newspapers,
  • Investigate whether there are pub companies which might be interested in buying the pub.
  • Continue to try to raise the profile of our campaign and build our public support which may be very valuable in the future.

The campaign asks supporters to encourage friends to sign the petition and share the campaign.

As well as information about the campaign the Facebook page has historical photographs and information about the Green Dragon
PGC Webmaster posted a reply
#1062
13 Mar 2015 16:22
The metal plates protecting the windows were removed last weekend and the building is now operating as a "pop-up" shop, apparently selling furniture and clothing. Not really a suitable use for this type of building. And it's distressing to see that some of the upstairs windows have been broken.

The CAMRA petition to try to retain the Green Dragon as a pub now has 4000 signatories. You can sign up here.
PGC Webmaster posted a reply
#1083
21 Mar 2015 15:55
The Enfield Independent this week reports that the new owners of the Green Dragon do not plan to demolish it, as it is "a prominent building in a good location". However, Green Lanes Investments (set up specially to buy the Green Dragon?) have not given any reassurances about the building's future use, apart from wishing the discount shop that is now there a successful future.

It has been suggested that the damage to the upstairs windows might be deliberate, to make it easier for the owners to justify alterations to the facade or even demolition.

The campaign to return the building to its original use as a pub will be holding a public meeting at 7.30pm on Thursday 26th March at the Kings Head on Winchmore Hill Green. Nice to see another pub taking such a positive attitude towards a potential rival for its trade.

More details of the progress of the campaign are on the Save the Green Dragon Facebook Page . The online petition is still collecting signatures.
PGC Webmaster posted a reply
#1098
24 Mar 2015 18:30
Mike McClean, organiser of the campaign to retain the Green Dragon as a pub, has sent the following message to everyone who has signed the petition.

A disturbing development is mentioned in the third paragraph: "The developers who have bought the Green Dragon have now made an approach to the council regarding their intention to turn the pub/site into flats."

Dear Friends,

Thank you for signing the Save The Green Dragon, Winchmore Hill petition.

This is a critical time for the Save The Green Dragon campaign. We are fighting to save the pub using every available means and are waiting for the council to process the petition and our application to have the pub listed as an Asset Of Community Value, however, at the same time, the developers who have bought The Green Dragon have now made an approach to the council regarding their intention to turn the pub/site into flats.

PUBLIC MEETING THIS THURSDAY 26th MARCH, upstairs at The Kings Head, Winchmore Hill Green at 7.30

We are holding a public meeting in order to bring the community together, to hear your views, to update you on our progress so far and to gather support from the people of Winchmore Hill and surrounding areas for the battle which lies ahead of us.

This campaign CAN be won but it will take the support of the local community. Only yesterday The Queensbury pub in Willesden Green was saved after a campaign, by a very similar community group to ours, managed to defeat Fairview Homes and their plan to build a towerblock on the site of their pub.

A good turnout at our meeting could be very important for us, local MPs, councillors, council planning representatives and newspapers will be present. A large turnout will show them the strength of feeling within our community and may influence how much support they offer us in the future.

Please don't allow yourself to believe that everything is going to be ok and that The Green Dragon will soon be a nice new pub or restaurant. This will not happen unless we make it happen! If this campaign fails then The Green Dragon will be knocked down or converted into flats or a supermarket or both, and that is a fact.

Under good management and with some investment The Green Dragon can again be a brilliant pub and a vibrant centre of the community. We have had contact from companies who wish to do exactly this.

Without The Green Dragon, this part of Winchmore Hill will become another faceless section of Green Lanes, a supermarket could kill the independant shops in the surrounding area, and the local community would be left with no traditional pub between Bush Hill Park and Winchmore Hill Green

Please, if you care about The Green Dragon and the 300 years of history it represents, come to the meeting. If we all leave it to somebody else then nobody will show up, if we all take an hour or so out of our lives for something we really care about then we can make a big difference and can save the pub for our community and for the generations who will follow.

Many thanks, we hope to see you on Thursday

cheers

The Save The Green Dragon Team

Please keep up to date with progress by visiting and liking our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/GreenDragonWinchmoreHill

The petition is still live and may yet be presented to parliament so please, if you havent done so already, forward this link and encourage your friends to sign it https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-the-green-dragon-winchmore-hill

Follow us on Twitter @STGDWH #savethegreendragon

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