Monthly Archives: September 2020

Melrose School expansion will result in unnecessary tree felling

Melrose School makes an important educational and community contribution to the area.

It is strategically located in wooded grounds between Church Road and London Road Playing Fields.

Merton Council decided in August to expand the school and provide for children of primary school age.

We have reviewed the development plans for new classrooms, a hall, new car park and other changes. These have a direct impact on that part of the school grounds which is in Mitcham Cricket Green Conservation Area and our fundamental concern is that a significant proportion of the remaining open space on the site is to be developed.

This will result in felling significant trees without any details as to how they will be replaced. Given the development is put forward by Merton Council and it will result in trees being felled that are the responsibility of Merton Council we are particularly concerned that no assessment of its heritage impact has been provided despite this being a requirement for developments in the Conservation Area.

Merton Council’s Design Review Panel only gave the plans an AMBER rating.

It recommended a two-storey option was considered “in order to maintain more open space and improve the general site layout. This also may take pressure off tree loss.” We agree. It is also perverse that despite this loss of trees the school is planning to include a new “Woodland teaching area”. It is a contradiction in terms to create a woodland teaching area on a site where the quality and number of trees is being reduced by a local authority which has declared a Climate Emergency.

We recognise the need to expand the school. We believe it can be achieved in a less damaging way with a better design that avoids extensive tree felling and causes less harm to the Conservation Area.

You can read our full submission Melrose School development

New Mitcham Bridge falls short

We have written before about the opportunity presented by Merton Council’s plans for a new Mitcham Bridge across the Wandle. This will replace a 260 year old crossing and a new bridge is a rare and special event.

Working with Mitcham Society and Wandle Valley Forum we have tried hard to influence the plans and offered to support Merton Council in providing historic interpretation. We have also engaged in the limited public consultation opportunities which have been provided where two different options were presented late on in the design process.

Unfortunately Merton Council has chosen not to respond and has now decided to proceed with the option not chosen by the public.

The resulting bridge is of generic design. It also fails to meet official standards for cycling. The plans will result in the loss of open space to highway and require the felling of mature trees and the demolition of an historic wall protecting Ravensbury Park from visual, noise and air pollution caused by traffic on the A217.

More than half those responding to the public consultation favoured a design which combined brickwork with railings, sympathetic to the site’s heritage and protecting the Wandle from pollution and litter. Merton Council’s Design Review Panel provided sharp criticism of the plans when awarding it an Amber rating.

After many delays Merton Council is now pushing ahead at speed. It will have decided on contractors to build the bridge even before its Planning Applications Committee has decided whether to give the green light and the short gap between the planning application being submitted and the expected decision is something private developers can only dream of.

We’re asking Merton Council to rethink the plans. A replacement bridge is urgently needed but it needs to stand the test of time. We believe a better approach is possible which engages the National Trust and other local landowners in finding the long term solution this historic crossing deserves.

Read our full response with Mitcham Society and Wandle Valley Forum to the planning application for a replacement Mitcham Bridge Mitcham Bridge – application

Mitcham Heritage Day – Saturday 12th September 2020

10:00am to 4:30pm Saturday 12 September 

Mitcham Heritage Day reminds visitors to be Covid aware. Please bring your own face covering and hand sanitiser. Maintain social distancing at all times. Use hand sanitiser and wear a face covering in accordance with government guidelines and whenever requested. Take any other actions requested to at venues, including queuing or waiting. Thank you.

The programme for the day is below. Please note that as we continue to live with the effects of Covid-19 information here may change, including right up to the event itself. Please check here for last minute alterations including immediately before the day.

Thank you to all the volunteers who are helping to make Mitcham Heriage Day 2020 happen.

Download our map for use on the day

Mitcham Cricket Green Community & Heritage
1:00pm
Guided walk around the gems of Mitcham Cricket Green
Allow 45 minutes
No booking. Assemble on cricket ground opposite pavilion.

Mitcham Cricket Green Community & Heritage
Heritage Shorts
Learn more about Mitcham Cricket Green at a range of information points. Visit as a self-guided walk or check each location out as you are passing. All the information points can be found on the map we will upload here soon.

Cricket Green School
10:00am to 4:30pm
See the remains of the Grade II listed arch of 14th Century Hall Place in school grounds. DIY children’s activities.

Mitcham Cricket Club
Weather permitting there may be a senior match in the afternoon. Start time to be confirmed. Covid-19 rules allow the teams to agree the format of the match on the day. Please note that the pavilion will not be open.

Mitcham Parish Church
11:00am to 2:00pm
Limited entry
Two Heritage displays provided by Merton Council’s Heritage and Local Studies service:
A Taste of the Past: A Mitcham heritage display based on popular foods from yesteryear
Mitcham: Did You Know…?: A display covering a range of interesting facts about the Mitcham area.
2:00pm Graveyard tour by Joyce Bellamy MBE. Assemble at front of church. No booking.

The Canons
11:00am to 3:00pm
On West lawn (near Madeira Hall, between Canons House and leisure centre)
Grade II* listed Canons House and the surrounding grounds are being restored with funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund. See an exhibition about the project and learn more about the historic house and grounds. Please note the house is closed due to the restoration.

Wandle Industrial Museum
10:00am to 4:30pm
The museum will have outdoor exhibitions, and a series of talks related to Mitcham on the green at the back of the museum. Social distancing will be in place with chairs provided. The displays and talks are dependent on the weather.

  • 11:00am Mills of the River Wandle
  • 12:00pm Lavender of Mitcham
  • 1:00pm Surrey Iron Railway
  • 2:00pm Brewing on the Wandle
  • 3:00pm People and Families of the Wandle Valley

Don’t forget to send us your email address to sign up to our regular email newsletter if you want to keep up with our work and events throughouth the year.

Mitcham Heritage Day is part of Wandle Fortnight 2020 and Heritage Open Days

Thanks go to Wandle Fortnight and the Canons (via The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund) the for their financial support.