ISSUE 62 SUMMER 2015 Win tickets to a New Wimbledon Theatre show on page 14 Top 10 summer activities Classics in the Park tickets on sale now! in Merton Find out the latest on St Helier Hospital Love Your Street and your parks this summer 2 We asked The Leader of Every year we ask 1,000 local residents about what issues most Merton Council, concern them and what they think about the services we provide. Councillor Stephen Alambritis, writes for My Merton. “You said” As I sat on the top deck of the 93 from Morden to Wimbledon last week, I was struck by the new flats Whilst satisfaction with how the council deals with litter being built near South Wimbledon tube station. remains positive, concern about people who litter our streets has With housing so hard to come by in London, I can increased over that last few years and is now a top concern for imagine the excitement of the new residents who will some residents. move in, once the flats have been completed. These are tough financial times for the council, but one way we can invest in the future is by working with other organisations to achieve more for our residents. The council has a key role over planning in the We did: borough and we use our powers to encourage building developers to build the kind of developments we need We know that residents have had enough of the small minority in Merton. This can help create new jobs, new homes who drop litter on our streets, so we have set up the Love Your to address the huge shortage of housing across Street campaign to boost the positive work the council does with London, and new facilities. residents, community groups, businesses and schools to tackle A great example is the work we are doing with litter in Merton. To help: developers to rebuild two of our libraries. Both l We are holding clean-up days, bringing the community Colliers Wood Library and West Barnes Library will be together to tackle problem areas replaced by new libraries with improved facilities as l We’ve teamed up with eddisonwhite estate agents. well as new homes. But at a time when our funding Residents who sign up to the Love Your Street pledge will from central government has been reduced, the good automatically be entered into a draw for a £100 One4all news for the council is that we have been able to do voucher every three months this and save money at the same time. l We will be increasing the fixed penalty notice charge to This is the kind of business-like and innovative discourage litter louts approach that Merton excels at. Although local l We will be issuing litter fines in parks this summer to government is facing many challenges, we have been help keep parks clean and tidy able to work creatively to come up with new ways of l We are trialling wheeled bins in Lavender Fields to see delivering the affordable services that our residents if they can help reduce litter on the street need the most. Once residents move in to their new homes in South Wimbledon I look forward to bumping into What you can do to help: them on the top deck. And I’ll be sure to tell them to check out our new library in Colliers Wood when it’s l Stand up against people who litter and show your commitment open for business! to keeping your street and Merton clean by signing up to our Love Your Street pledge at merton.gov.uk/loveyourstreet l Always dispose of your litter responsibly l If a public bin is full please take your litter home with you l When you see litter or fly-tipping, report it to us PS: I’m crossing my fingers that it’s going to be a sunny summer and we can all enjoy Merton’s great parks. When the weather is good there tends to be Cover: Wimbledon Park summer shoot. more litter from picnics so if you do notice a build up Photograph by Paul Tanner Photography. call us on 020 8545 9750 and we’ll clean it up. mymerton Issue 62 • Summer 2015 3 merton.gov.uk My Merton is published by the London Borough of Merton and is distributed free to households in the borough four times a year. The editorial content of My Merton is produced by the contents London Borough of Merton’s Communications Team Community Editor of this issue: Felix Ampofo Feature contributions from News 4 Elizabeth Thompson The latest news from My Merton is designed by around the borough Domino4 01932 988677 Email [email protected] www.domino4.co.uk Printed by Cliffe Enterprise Features Print Partnership Contact 0845 601 9478 Merton means Email [email protected] www.cliffe-enterprise.com business 15 My Merton is distributed How the council is helping by London Letterbox. local businesses and young Contact 020 8940 0666 or log people get apprenticeships on to www.londonletterbox.co.uk Lavender fields 18 quick reference A history of the lavender keyservices industry Merton is Switchboard: 020 8274 4901 renowned for Anti-social behaviour hotline: 020 8274 4907 5 minutes with 32 Council tax: 020 8274 4904 Founder of Sustainable Benefits advice: Merton Tom Walshe 020 8545 4178 Regulars Libraries: 020 8545 3783 16 Parking: 020 8545 4661 Ten things to Environment 12 Registering to vote: Latest on keeping Merton 020 8545 3407 do this summer clean in the summer and Waste collection services: recycling tips 020 8274 4902 What’s on 25 contactus Your guide to all that’s going on in Merton this summer My Merton, Communications, 8th Floor, Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, SM4 5DX Tel 020 8545 3327 Don’t forget to Email [email protected] merton.gov.uk/mymerton visit our website! merton.gov.uk/mymerton What’s on listings: 020 8545 3327 [email protected] You can also follow us on: Adverts For all advertising enquiries contact [email protected] 10 23 The London Borough of Merton www.facebook.com/mertoncouncil does not accept responsibility St Helier hospital Merton’s longest for or endorse any products or Latest developments on the services offered by advertisers. serving employee future of the hospital Lew Block has worked at the My Merton costs only council 50 years. He tells us @Merton_Council 12p a copy to produce what’s changed When you have finished with this magazine please recycle it. Whenever you see this logo www.flickr.com/mertoncouncil My Merton is printed on fully recyclable paper, which is accredited by the PEFC Council that means there’s a volunteering (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes). This edition of opportunity to get involved in My Merton is distributed from 29 June. www.youtube.com/mertoncouncil news 4 Keeping Merton informed Logo unveiled to celebrate Merton’s 50th year Local school children and Mayor Councillor Agatha life in Merton over the last dignitaries, past and present, Akyigyina celebrated the 50 years. came together at Merton council’s 50th year with former There are lots of celebratory Council’s civic centre in Mayors, current and former events taking place as part of Morden to see the unveiling of councillors and long-serving Merton’s Golden Jubilee. a special Golden Jubilee logo council officers. Local school find out more designed by Stella Rodriquez (8 children and their parents merton.gov.uk/Merton50 years) from Singlegate School. were also there and everyone The winning design was present enjoyed a performance revealed to all just ahead of from the young musicians Left to right: Former deputy lieutenant of Merton, Sir John Wheeler, the first full council meeting of Merton Music Foundation Stella Rodiquez and former Mayor of the new council year in as well as seeing the Merton’s of Merton, Cllr Agatha Akyigyina Merton on April. At the occasion the then Golden Moments film depicting the move The council is calling on residents to take “one small Gearing up for RideLondon step for man” and get Merton residents will see the come out and join in the range involved in a virtual health Prudential RideLondon cycle of events that will be taking initiative that will see Merton events up close on Sunday 2 place in Raynes Park, travel the distance from the August as thousands of Wimbledon and Wimbledon earth to the moon. Merton amateur and professional Village and spread out along on the Move is a free health cyclists come whizzing the route to get the best views programme to get people through Wimbledon and and cheer on the riders. active and contribute to the Raynes Park, many raising find out more goal of walking, jogging, money for charity. Check the Transport for London running or cycling 250,000 RideLondon is working with and Prudential RideLondon miles over a 12-month the council and residents to websites for help planning any period. Residents and local make sure that the event is a journeys you make on the day business are all encouraged great day by planning ahead as the festival will be on many to sign up and there will be and involving the community London and Surrey roads. Merton Council employee prize draws for everyone Tony Richards is the Mayor of and local businesses. www.tfl.gov.uk/ride-london Merton’s rider this year – come who enters. Anyone can Residents are encouraged to www.prudentialridelondon.co.uk out and support him on the day take part regardless of age and how active they are.