More than 50 Mitcham and Morden residents of all ages have joined forces to have their say on the issues that matter most to them.
Merton Council’s new Community Forums kick started with great success in Raynes Park last month when 52 residents met to share their views and opinions, and the success of the new meetings has continued through the borough.
The new Intergenerational Centre, policing issues and regeneration of both areas were discussed at the meetings in Mitcham and Morden. Improvement to the environment and changes to bus routes were also top of the agenda at the Mitcham meeting. In Morden a number of councillors in attendance gave updates on other local issues such as having public toilets in Morden station and developments with the Centre of Excellence at St Anne’s School.
The Soapbox section of both meetings enabled residents to bring up specific issues and concerns. In Mitcham the biggest issues raised by local people were to do with street cleaning, parking and noise disruptions from neighbours. In Morden the most talked about subject was regarding the traffic light phasing at Links Avenue and Aberconway Road. A request from one of the youngest people at the meeting for a drinking water fountain to be installed at Moystn Gardens was also well received.
Issues raised at community forum meetings will be taken up by the responsible organisation to follow up and report back on how problems are solved.
Councillor Tariq Ahmad, cabinet member for community safety and engagement adds:
“It is excellent that we have had a good turn out for these new Community Forum meetings. This new approach we are taking forward gives residents a chance to air their views on subjects that are particularly local or pertinent to them, and helps the council take action where necessary. Merton Council is urging local people who live, work or spend their time in the Colliers Wood and Wimbledon areas to come to their first Community Forums and make sure that the issues that matter most to them are put forward for discussion and resolution.”
The next two meetings will be for Colliers Wood and Wimbledon and take place on Monday 14 July and Monday 21 July respectively.
For more information about the Community Forums, telephone 020 8545 4400, e-mail community.forums@merton.gov.uk or visit http://www.merton.gov.uk/communityforums.
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Notes to Editors:
The next Community Forums will take place at the following dates:
14 July 2008
Colliers Wood Community Forum
Links Primary School, Frinton Road
21 July 2008
Wimbledon Community Forum
Wimbledon Community Centre, St George’s Road