Wimbledon’s High Path estate in Abbey Ward will be the focus of action next week as teams from the council, the police, the health service, the probation service and more will be out tackling residents’ key issues in the first of this year’s Action in Merton events.
This first Action in Merton (AIM) event will be taking place over two days on 21 and 22 May, and is part of a major initiative run by the council and its partners to make Merton a safer, cleaner and healthier place for all. The focus of the series of events planned is to work with residents to identify a particular area that needs attention, bringing in the services needed to help.
High Path estate in Abbey Ward, Wimbledon was chosen from a shortlist by residents at the Wimbledon community forum and will be the first of five areas around the borough to be tackled by the AIM teams this year. In the weeks before each event the AIM teams will also visit the chosen area to see what action needs to be taken.
With two days of action, day one on 21 May will get to work on things such as environmental issues and anti-social behaviour. Day two on Saturday 22 May, invites residents in the area to come and speak to teams about how to keep safe, prevent crime and anti-social behaviour, keep the family safe from fire risk and live a healthy lifestyle. The teams will be there from 10am until 2pm on both days.
Acting Chief Inspector Helen Harper, Merton police said:
‘ Whether it is removing graffiti or advising residents on keeping their home safe from burglary, bringing together the council and other partner services with the police’s Safer Neighbourhood Teams for these AIM events will ensure residents get the service they need to help them feel safer about the specific area they live in.’
Merton Council director for environment and regeneration Chris Lee said:
“With crime as a number one concern for residents in Merton, the council and its partners are dedicated to helping residents feel safer. Action in Merton is a partnership approach which will make a real difference to local communities in a short period of time.
“Residents are critical to the success of AIM, as we will be asking them where they most want to see council resources used and the specific issues they want to see us tackle so we can offer them a tailor-made service which will directly improve the quality of their lives.”
Further AIM events will take place throughout Merton including Canterbury Road in Morden on 17-18 June and Shannon’s Corner in Raynes Park on 22-23 July. To decide where the next AIM events take place, residents are invited to come and join discussions at the Colliers Wood and North East Mitcham community forum on Wednesday 16 June and the Mitcham Community Forum on Tuesday 22 June.
For all the details log on to http://www.merton.gov.uk/aim
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