The Government used the Wheatsheaf pub in Tooting to announce new pub protection measures.

Kris Hopkins MP, then the Secretary of State for Department for Communities and Local Government, chose the pub following a grassroots campaign to get it declared as an asset of community value (ACV) to try to prevent it becoming a supermarket.

The politician said it was one of the highest profile ACV campaigns in the country and the Government was offering added protection to ACV registered pubs, on Monday, March 23.

He said: "A lot of hard work has been put in by communities to protect their beloved pubs from sell-off and many more could be afforded this protection, which is why we are calling on people to celebrate the first-ever community pubs day by considering whether they might want to list their local."

Wandsworth Times:

Ministers announced a range of measures to bolster pubs and give communities greater say in the planning process. Extra Government funding will also be pumped into schemes to support community ownership of valuable public houses.

Dan Watkins, Tooting Conservative parliamentary candidate, said: "Two years ago a group of Wheatsheaf regulars got together to get the pub listed as Tooting's first asset of community of value. We've finally seen off the developers, and now our campaign has been recognised by the Government."

Wandsworth Times:

Tooting’s Labour parliamentary candidate Sadiq Khan said: "Wow. Not only has our community campaign to save the Wheatsheaf has saved our pub, but it has made history by playing a major role in convincing the government to introduce more robust pub protection for all pubs.

"We should all be extremely proud of the role we have played in protecting local pubs for future generations."