Have your say on Merton's Character Study Q1 Why character? Answered: 45 Skipped: 9 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 1 - No - more needs to be done 2 3 4 5 - Yes - Strongly agree 1 - NO - MORE NEEDS TO BE 2 3 4 5 - YES - STRONGLY TOTAL WEIGHTED DONE AGREE AVERAGE (no 17.78% 6.67% 33.33% 26.67% 15.56% label) 8 3 15 12 7 45 1.00 # PLEASE TELL US WHY DATE 1 The chapter is written from a developer's perspective, not from a resident's perspective. There 3/23/2021 9:37 PM is a lot of jargon appears to be written by development consultants. The maps and illustrations are too small for evaluation - is this on purpose? 2 Generic opening statements. OK. I understand that the online sessions were not as well 3/23/2021 8:44 PM organised as you imply but it must be difficult to engage residents in planning matters 3 I think it is superficial but reflects some character 3/23/2021 6:51 PM 4 Unfettered intensification is likely to have a permanent deleterious effect. 3/23/2021 1:19 PM 5 This section pays insufficient attention to the comments made on past proposals by those 3/22/2021 12:30 PM living and working in the Borough particularly with regard to not increasing housing density unduly, keeping building height to a human scale, etc. 6 It focuses much on green spaces and family living which is critical in the area and further 3/22/2021 10:09 AM development would hinder this. 7 I do not consider adequate "advertising" of these proposals has been carried out. Also the 3/21/2021 7:41 AM digital format makes perusal of the "brochure" well nigh impossible. 8 No thought about people who live or work in area 3/19/2021 4:57 PM 9 An attempt has been made to address the very wide range of character within the Borough; 3/19/2021 4:10 PM 10 The Study's stated aim is " to define an approach to growth for different parts of the Borough, 3/19/2021 3:35 PM informed by an analysis of character. " That is a very serious exercise, affecting the lives and 1 / 51 Have your say on Merton's Character Study wellbeing of many people, especially those who have chosen to make their homes in Merton already, as it will lead to radical changes in their home environment. This study is shallow and in many instances, inaccurate. That is irresponsible. 11 It all sounds wonderful - BUT - why set this all out and ask for our opinions and then take no 3/19/2021 2:44 PM notice, for example: giving planing permission for the vast building on Francis Grove is completely against all that you say about keeping in character. 12 I struggled to understand the language used. Phrases such as active travel corridors are 3/12/2021 5:00 PM unhelpful jargon used by Planners not ordinary people. 13 This does not give a positive response. Merton has so many attributes and character that 3/12/2021 4:26 PM should be valued. I feel that by beginning with positive affirmations will encourage further reading. It does not give a feel to wanting to explore further. 14 There needs to be a complete redesign 3/12/2021 4:03 PM 15 It's historical fact. 3/3/2021 1:10 PM 16 Character is also determined by people, socioeconomic profile, safety and security 2/27/2021 6:00 PM 17 The number of people consulted is far too low for the size of the borough and the timing is 2/26/2021 9:26 PM wrong. The impact of decisions made based on the consultation will affect many people, notably in certain areas and so more focus on consulting in these arrears would be appropriate. Only 30 people from across the whole borough attended the workshop and only 416 responded to the digital survey. What about people who do not have access to a computer e.g the elderly or those living on low incomes. Such consultations should employ sampling techniques to ensure a balance of views and more weight given to those living in areas most likely to be affected by changes. Many people are probably completely unaware that the study, or even this consultation exist. The initial intent may be fair but its execution is not. Why not defer until post Covid when other things may become clearer such as the true likely need for more accommodation in London, given the success of working from home. 18 A good start. However the borough should involve more than 450 people in consultation. 2/14/2021 4:38 PM 19 You are knocking "character" down and selling it to billionaires. 2/11/2021 9:58 AM 20 After WW2 there was a design problem with high rise flats etc. These were pulled down mainly 2/10/2021 12:40 PM because of the design and problems it caused. we now seem to have forgotten the lessons learnt and are now imposing higher developments in the village and residential areas. This has to be wrong. By dwarfing residential properties with adjoining higher buildings is bad. More design thought need to be given to the light deprivation to existing properties and the views that have. 2 / 51 Have your say on Merton's Character Study Q2 Do you have any additional comments? Answered: 9 Skipped: 45 # RESPONSES DATE 1 Please provide residents with proper sized documents 3/23/2021 9:37 PM 2 Timing of consultation is bad. Brexit, new working from home ability, and closure of physical 3/23/2021 1:19 PM shopping may free up sites for development making infill developments unnecaasary. 3 I would strongly request no development, especially on back gardens. 3/22/2021 10:09 AM 4 Need to resist temptation to see all modernization / change as beneficial 3/19/2021 4:10 PM 5 It would have been better to be honest from the outset and called it what it is. Merton's 3/19/2021 3:35 PM Character Study leading to Intensification of Land Use. To do otherwise is misleading and causes people to lose confidence in the integrity of the Council. 6 no 3/19/2021 1:10 PM 7 A tall iconic tower and links to the park are needed 3/12/2021 4:03 PM 8 I just hope this is taken into proper consideration when development is being planned. 3/3/2021 1:10 PM 9 Just because the rules allow higher development that doesn't mean you have to strive to 2/10/2021 12:40 PM achieve it. The same applies to density. There are still plenty of brown field sites that can still be developed before we crowd out the existing resident properties. 3 / 51 Have your say on Merton's Character Study Q3 Existing character Answered: 44 Skipped: 10 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 1 - No - more needs to be done 2 3 4 5 - Yes - Strongly agree 1 - NO - MORE NEEDS TO BE 2 3 4 5 - YES - STRONGLY TOTAL WEIGHTED DONE AGREE AVERAGE (no 13.64% 6.82% 31.82% 29.55% 18.18% label) 6 3 14 13 8 44 1.00 # PLEASE TELL US WHY DATE 1 interesting history if i could read it - too small. Need to provide readable maps with street 3/23/2021 9:37 PM names 2 Adequate overview of history and geography. Merton struggles by not having a true identity of 3/23/2021 8:47 PM its own but is just a political amalgamation of Wimbledon, Morden, and Mitcham with surrounding areas 3 What has been is not as important as retaining that which is current and beneficial rather than 3/22/2021 12:32 PM planning to ruin existing character by over intensity of building, approving overly high structures in town centres, etc. 4 I do not consider adequate "advertising" of these proposals has been carried out. Also the 3/21/2021 7:41 AM digital format makes perusal of the "brochure" well nigh impossible. 5 Again attempt made to produce balanced view. i 3/19/2021 4:11 PM 6 If you are going to quote history, you need to get facts right. e.g. page 14. St. Mary's Church, 3/19/2021 3:50 PM Merton Park, is 11thC, not 13thC. It was founded by the Augustinian Canons, firstly as a wooden building on the only non-marshy plot of land around, and then replaced by Gilbert the Norman with a stone building, to which the Victorians added North and South Aisles to increase space. The Nave roof is 900 years old. The Augustinian Canons went on to build Merton Priory when the original (Merton Park) site became too small for their needs and they wished to be beside water - The River Wandle. Page 16, why no geology map? If you are going to build, especially higher buildings with piling, you need to be aware of ground conditions, such as the Wimbledon Fault which runs just north of Worple Road, through Wimbledon just north of Alexendra Road and then on to Gap Road. This is what I mean when I say the Study 4 / 51 Have your say on Merton's Character Study is shallow. Most of it could have been written about anywhere. There are numerous other serious errors and omissions which detract from the validity of this Study which no doubt local groups will bring to your attention.