Merton Community Plan launched – we’re proud to be featured

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Merton has launched its new Community Plan. This is the overarching strategic plan of the Merton Partnership. It sets out the partnership’s long term vision and priorities for the borough up until 2019.

The magazine style publication presents the results of research into what people want to see in Merton, and looks at the work of various organisations and individuals, highlighting how voluntary and community activity benefits the whole borough.

We’re delighted that Mitcham Cricket Green Community and Heritage has a slot on the page that’s specifically about Mitcham.

You can download the full community plan for yourself from Merton Council’s web site.

MCGC&H in Community Plan Merton Community Plan cover

Why we are objecting to a canopy on Fair Green

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We have put in a formal objection to Merton Council’s plans for a large canopy on Fair Green.

This is one of a number of developments planned for Fair Green over the coming months as part of the Rediscover Mitcham programme.

It is shocking that this application has been submitted before the Rediscover Mitcham plans have been formally agreed by the Council.

We have also asked Merton’s planners to reject it on the grounds of the lack of detail in the documents that make up the planning application.

We also think that it is wrong to consider one part of a much wider set of proposals in isolation from all the rest.

The proposed structure is unduly intrusive, poorly designed and over-size.  It would cause significant harm to the valued and historic open space of Fair Green.

We have seen no evidence that Merton Council will invest in long term maintenance and fear extra costs will fall on market traders. The canopy also risks becoming a place for rough sleeping and anti-social behaviour.

We believe the focus should be on an alternative strategy which invests in the existing market and local businesses through grassroots community activity that will meet the desired objectives for regenerating Mitcham town centre more effectively.

Read our response in full

Our comments on plans for 3m wide cycle track along Wandle

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In late June we attended a consultation in Poulter Park about putting a wide cycle track along the stretch of the Wandle that runs along Poulter Park.

The plan fits in with ideas about more work all along the Wandle Trail, and there’s been a big funding boost recently with £2 million granted from the Heritage Lottery Fund. There’s going to be a big launch of the Living Wandle Landscape Partnership that will administer this grant, and a celebration of the projects planned, at Morden Hall Park on 29th September. Information is at www.wandlevalleypark.co.uk.

The consultation we attended was for a piece of work funded outside this larger grant, and was managed by Sustrans, who would be doing the work if it gets approved.

A report of the consultation has been published, but sadly we find the report to be inadequate. We made a formal written representation, and while this is referred to in the consultation report, it has not been published in full.

So we are publishing our comments here.

We’re also publishing a drawing of the plans.

Our latest newsletter

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We’ve published our Autumn 2013 Bulletin.

Read it to learn more about:

  • Why the willow at the Canons carp pond has gone
  • How we are contributing to the Merton Memories project
  • Why we are objecting to floodlit sports pitches at the Canons and how you can get involved (also see our web site post)
  • A new addition to the Cricket Green Conservation Area
  • Opening the Cricket Pavilion for London Open House on 21 September (also see our web site post)
  • And much more!

MCGCH newsletter Autumn 2013

A busy week in planning

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It’s been a busy week for us in terms of planning applications and we have submitted three documents to Merton Council.

Sites and policies plan

The sites and policies plan is an extremely important document. It contains all Merton’s planning policies that will be used in the assessment of planning applications in the borough once it has been adopted. It also identifies sites for redevelopment between 2014 and 2024.

The plan has been available for public comment and a final draft will be produced and submitted to the Secretary of State for scrutiny by the end of September. in December there will be a public hearing by a planning inspector to examine the plans. The inspector will report in early 2014 with the final version being adopted by the council and put into general use some time during next year.

You can see the document for yourself and register to be kept informed of meeting dates at Merton Council’s web site here.

You can read our comments here.

18 Commonside West

You may recall that a plan to demolish a bungalow on Commonside West and replace it with houses was turned down by the Council.

The developers returned with a new proposal and while we did not object in principle we found some aspects, including having balconies on the front of the houses, unacceptable.

Balconies easily and understandably become full of ‘clutter’ which could negatively affect the views of this important strand of homes in the Cricket Green Conservation Area from across Three Kings Piece.

The developers have revised their plans and made adjustments to the balconies. You can read our comments on the revised plans here.

Mcmillan Williams, 8 & 10 Cricket Green

We were shocked and surprised when Mcmillan Williams Solicitors on Cricket Green tore the original (1830s) windows out of their locally listed offices facing onto Cricket Green without having applied for permission to do so. The windows were replaced with modern windows totally out of keeping with the building.

We contacted the Enforcement Officer at Merton Council, and Mcmillan Williams Solicitors has applied for planning permission to replace the windows it recently put in with new ones restoring them to a faithful replication of the original.

You can read our comments on their application here.

Cricket pavilion open, guided walk and six a side competiton celebrating Open House London, 21 September

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We are delighted to be opening the Cricket Pavilion for this year’s Open House London weekend on 21 September.

Please join us at the cricket pavilion on Mitcham Cricket Green.

  • Free access to the 1904 cricket pavilion with its stunning views across the cricket green and great collection of local cricketing memorabilia
  • Special display about the cricketers listed on the Ruff Memorial Stone
  • Refreshments. Take tea on the balcony and soak up the atmosphere
  • A six a side cricket competition between multi-age sides from Mitcham Cricket Club starting at 11am and going on all day
  • A free guided walk around the Cricket Green area starting at 11:30am

The cricket pavilion will be open from 10:00am to 5:00pm.

Full details including how to get there are on our poster.