Four key themes were discussed at Merton’s one-day partnership conference last week, to address the issues facing Merton’s parks and open spaces. It was attended by Friends groups, councillors, council officers, and the police.

The conference, which was hosted by the Mayor of Merton at Morden Park House, was organised to raise the profile of parks and open spaces, recognise the good work already being done by the Council and local friends groups, and to work with partners to try and improve the quality of the environment.

The four issues discussed at the conference were:
· Community Involvement
· Community Safety
· Funding
· The Planning Context

A video was also shown at the conference to recognise and promote voluntary and collective effort of maintaining the boroughs parks. Two busloads of Merton’s councillors and officers recently toured the borough to gain an overview of the parks and open spaces in preparation for the conference.

Merton Council is one of the greenest boroughs in London and is responsible for a large amount of land. The conference has enabled the council to work with the Friends Groups and other organisations to openly debate the issues and work in partnership to improve and restore open spaces.

Merton Council’s Cabinet Member for Environmental Quality, Councillor Linda Kirby, who requested this event, said: “I was delighted with the turn out at the conference and am confident that it will lead to improvements to our green spaces. Thanks go to all the Friends Groups across the borough for all the support they bring to their local parks.”