The leader of a campaign to save a community pub has accused the council of censorship after an oversight cost him the chance to ask a question at a public meeting.

David Smith, chairman of the Campaign for Morden Tavern, (CMT) was blocked from asking a question to the councillor in charge of planning policy – Councillor Andrew Judge – because he misunderstood Merton Council’s public questions procedure at last Wednesday’s full council meeting.

Despite Coun Judge acknowledging the St Helier resident had mistakenly repeated his original written question, which was answered in advance of the meeting, Mr Smith was denied the opportunity to ask a pre-prepared follow-up question.

Mr Smith said: “Having apologised and explained the misunderstanding, I was still refused an opportunity to ask a question to the elected chamber.

“The CMT views this as censorship by the council and a clear failure to fulfil its promise to listen to its community.”

Always eager to help the democratic process, the Wimbledon Guardian asked Mr Smith’s question on his behalf.

Mr Smith, who is campaigning against a deal to sell the council-owned Morden Tavern in Central Road to a developer, wanted to ask why the council claimed no rival companies wanted to buy the site and thus encourage bigger bids.

When the Wimbledon Guardian put this to Coun Judge, he replied: “In my view, this supplementary question from Mr Smith is unfair to our planning officer.

“In the submissions of [CMT] they have stated there has been no interest from the licence trade for buying or leasing the premises.”

He added: “…despite [Mr Smith’s] campaign, no evidence has been produced to myself demonstrating a realistic commercial interest in the pub.

“I would be happy to see any evidence of interest if Mr Smith has any.”

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