21 June Civic Day walk around Cricket Green

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Our Civic Day event this year will tour the Canons and Cricket Green area and discuss ideas for two Heritage Lottery Fund bids being put together by Merton Council.

The walk will be no further than a mile and will probably last around 90 minutes. It will be led by Tony Burton. We will collect your thoughts and share them with the people putting the bid together.

This event is free and open to all – please invite friends and family to take part.

Gather at 11:00 on the green opposite the Cricket Pavilion. The walk will last about 90 minutes and will end at Park Place where those who wish to can enjoy lunch.

If you wish to join the walk please email to let us know.

Merton Council is preparing two Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) bids:

  • Parks for People. This bid will focus on Canons house and grounds, and will be aimed at encouraging more people to use the area, finding a use for Canons house and understanding what makes the area special
  • Townscape Heritage. This bid will focus on Cricket Green, London Road and Church Road. It is based around key buildings such as the Cricket Pavilion and Burn Bullock, and the ‘streetscape’.

If successful these bids could bring millions of pounds into the area. We are working closely with the project manager, who is employed by Merton Council, as well as with the Mitcham Society and Friends of the Canons, to help these bids be a success.

Have your say now by filling in the response form at the bid web site www.canonspartnership.org.uk 

Summer 2014 bulletin

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Our Summer 2014 Bulletin has been published, and is being distributed to streets in the Cricket Green area by our volunteers.

This issue is packed with information including:

  • Details of the completion of our HLF funded work to restore the horse trough, Tom Ruff memorial and milestone
  • News of yet more planning applications for the Cricketers pub
  • Information about preparation of two large Heritage Lottery Fund bids for the Canons and for Cricket Green

MCGCH newsletter Summer 2014

MCGCH newsletter Summer 2014 front page

Local election candidates respond to our questions about Cricket Green

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The local elections on 22 May are important for the future of Cricket Green.

We have asked questions of all 10 candidates standing in Cricket Green ward about their views on key issues. These range from the impact of lorries on Church Road, the future of cricket on the green and their attitude to protection of the Conservation Area from damaging development, light pollution and other threats.

All four political parties have responded and their answers are revealing.

As a local charity it is not for us to take sides in the election.  The responses speak for themselves and we hope you find them useful.

Local election 2014 – all party responses

Local election 2014 – full response from Labour

Local election 2014 – full response from Liberal Democrats

Local election 2014 – full response from Mitcham Independent Party

Local election 2014 – full response from Conservatives

Local election 2014 – questions for candidates

Yet another Cricketers Pub planning application

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The owner of the Cricketers Pub seems to be discontent with the permission it has to convert the existing building into flats.

We are aware that a significant application is in development which will ask yet again if the pub can be demolished and replaced – something that has been refused multiple times already. From what we have seen of this plan so far, we are not encouraged.

Meanwhile, a planning application has been submitted asking if the ground floor can be retail rather than residential. We do not object to this idea, though we are objecting to the proposed implementation of it.

We have a number of concerns that include the lack of control over retail uses. The site owner made no bones about suggesting a cafe at a recent public exhibition, but in reality there is nothing to stop other uses, for example pay day lenders or betting shops. We also have concerns about other aspects of the proposal.

Read our  comments on the Cricketers – mixed use conversion planning application

Our Local Election 2014 questions to prospective Cricket Green ward councillors

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It’s local election time again and we’re asking all 10 candidates in Cricket Green Ward to answer some key questions.

If elected will they protect the conservation area?

Where do they stand on controlling light pollution and providing affordable access for locals to the new floodlit sports pitches being built in the Canons grounds?

Will they back a ban on lorries in Church Road?

How will they ensure a bright future for Mitcham Cricket Club and its pavilion?

Do they back the Cricket Green Charter drawn up with the local community last year?

And what is their most important priority for improving the quality of life in Cricket Green?

As a local charity we don’t take sides in local elections.  We’re here to hold everyone to account for the good of Cricket Green. Watch out for the responses which we will post online.

Read Local election 2014 – questions for candidates.

Car sales in the Burn Bullock car park – why we are objecting

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The owner of the Burn Bullock pub at Cricket Green has put in a planning application for car sales in the car park. Car sales have in fact been going on there for some time, without planning permission. In fact, we wonder whether the threat of enforcement action is all that lies behind the application for planning permission.

We are objecting to this planning application because we feel car sales are entirely inappropriate to the location, in the Cricket Green Conservation Area and adjacent to a Grade II listed building. We believe it goes against the council’s own policies and the Cricket Green Charter.

Read our objection to planning application for Burn Bullock car sales.