Merton is to be the site of the country’s first purpose built centre aimed at providing a range of shared services and facilities under one roof for older people, children and youngsters across the borough.
A public meeting to present early plans for the new centre to the community will be held on Saturday 17 May from 10:30am to 12:30pm in the school hall of St. Mark’s Academy, Acacia Road, CR4 1SF. There will be a chance to see plans and designs from the architects and the managers of the project, accompanied by lively performances from young and old.
The organisers want to hear the views of Merton residents about the new building and the sort of services they feel would be effective and work for the benefit of all generations in the borough.
Merton was chosen to be the site of London’s first purpose built state of the art centre after a successful bid for £1.5 million capital funding from the London Development Agency. It is aimed at providing a range of shared services and facilities under one roof, which will bring together young and old, as individuals, groups and families. There will also be a Children’s Centre included in the new building.
Work has already begun to clear the site for the centre – a disused youth centre and motorbike track situated next to Lonesome Primary School and St. Mark’s Academy in Eastfields, Mitcham. The aim is to open the new building in the middle of 2009.
Leader of Merton Council, Councillor David Williams, says: “This is fantastic news for Merton. We are committed to establishing a centre of excellence for intergenerational work and are determined to deliver services which put the needs of our residents first and contribute to improved relationships and cohesion between young and old.”