Residents of Merton have the unique opportunity to have a say in how Merton Council spends a multi-million-pound fund. 

Councillor Ross Garrod, Leader of Merton Council, said: “The fund comes from the millions of pounds Merton Council earned by turning a company it set up from scratch into a global success story. 

“And, in a groundbreaking move, the Council is giving residents a direct say on how it spends £15m of that.” 

The Merton Legacy Fund will support projects that will make the borough better today and for decades to come.  

Last year, residents shared hundreds of ideas about how we should spend that money. We heard from people across every corner of Merton about what would make the biggest differences to them. 

The first £3m will be focussed on turning the most popular ideas and suggestions into projects. Themes include changes and enhancements to town centres, local high streets, neighbourhoods, and our much-loved parks and green spaces.  

Residents are at the heart of how this money will be spent – that’s is why the Council is recruiting a group of local people to join a decision-making group.  

Called an advisory board, this group will come from across the borough and will help the council turn these ideas into deliverable projects.  

Recruitment will open, here, next week – and anyone can apply.  

The board will develop the strongest and most feasible ideas into costed projects – with help from council experts – and supported by an independent co-chair.  

When this group has drawn up a short list – these will go back out to the people of Merton – and you can vote for your favourites, which we’ll take forward as part of the first year of projects.  

Don’t worry if you missed the opportunity to submit your ideas the first-time round. We’re still open to suggestions – you can make these here from next week.