After a final burst of rubber-stamping, New Malden’s Woodies pavilion was definitely, finally, incontrovertibly and irrefutably to become a pub again.

The fact that it had been a pub for the preceding six years did not appear to trouble members of Kingston’s development committee, who took the decision.

Councillors also voted to use the adjoining land as a private sports ground, though there was some hesitation when it was pointed out that the land had been a private sports ground for no fewer than 70 years.

The protracted saga of planning applications and objections which had blighted the land at the end of Thetford Road, New Malden, for years finally appeared to be at an end.

Woodies was a pub. The land around it was a sports ground, and everyone seemed happy – almost.

A dozen residents in Oxford Crescent, Thetford Road and Malden Way objected because of concerns about late night disturbance, the removal of a public footpath, vibration, subsidence, a risk of flooding, noisy deliveries and the fact that metropolitan open land was under threat.

Councillors imposed a hefty list of restrictions in a bid to allay the fears.

Councillor David Edwards, a former council leader and ex-resident of Thetford Road, told the committee that he saw no reason why there should be a change of use order for a private sports ground.

He said: “It’s been used for more than 70 years as a private sports ground.”

A series of attempts to vary the wording split the Conservatives on the committee right down the middle, with Liberal Democrat councillor Steve Harris gleefully urging the Tories to “sort out their squabbles before the meeting in future”.

He added: “It’s rather embarrassing for us to have to watch it in public.”

Eventually the Woodies pub and sports ground plans were approved by eight votes to five.

50 YEARS AGO

September 23, 1964
One-man-operated buses were being introduced on three local routes, London Transport 
announced. The 201, 206 and 216 had been running at a considerable loss.
The vehicles were re-fitted with powered doors. Passengers paid their fares directly to the driver.


25 YEARS AGO

September 22, 1989
Kingston town centre was chosen as one of the first sites to benefit from the latest development in telephone technology. The cordless phones allowed shoppers to call anywhere in the world – but had to remain within 200m of a base station, called a telepoint. Incoming calls were not possible.


10 YEARS AGO 

September 22, 2004
Kingston University narrowly missed out on the Sunday Times university of the year award.
The university, one of four shortlisted, was praised for its fine teaching record and for producing some of the best-paid graduates in the UK. 
University College London won the accolade.