ISSUE 63 AUTUMN 2015 Expanding Merton’s schools Win tickets to a New Wimbledon Theatre show on page 14 Exam results are in Nominate your community champion Mitcham clock tower returns 2 We asked Each year we ask residents to tell us their concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour issues. We work with the police and other The Leader of agencies to use this information to help prioritise our services. Merton Council, Councillor Stephen Alambritis, writes “You said” for My Merton. We’ll soon be preparing for Small Business Saturday, when In our 2014 crime and anti-social behaviour survey, the anti-social you’ll find me helping out behind the counter at some behaviour that residents were most concerned about was people of our local small businesses. Apologies in advance if I dropping litter and fly-tipping, with 63% saying this was a very make you fish and chips or a curry that’s not up to scratch! big or fairly big problem. The crimes that residents said were the Many of you will know that I have a background in biggest problems were burglary and motor vehicle crimes. Less business. That’s why I support our local small businesses. than half of respondents said they felt safe when out alone after But it’s also why I’ve made sure the council is run in a dark, a decrease from 60% in 2014. business-like way. I’ve made sure we’ve kept your council tax low and we’ve made council services more efficient than ever. However, the reduction in our funding from central government has made this more and more difficult. We did: Councils up and down the country are seeing 40% of their government funding cut. And the new government Although the police are facing changes to the way they work due has said it wants further cuts. to reductions in their funding from central government, we are On top of this, the number of older people who need proud of our work with Merton Police in tackling and reducing often expensive social care has increased and there has crime and anti-social behaviour in our borough, but we know been a big increase in the birth-rate. So there are more there is still more to do. As a result of what you have told us we people in need of services but less money than ever have changed how we tackle the issues that matter to you: before to provide these services. l We have fined over 7,000 people for litter and fly-tipping Faced with this challenge, it would be easy to give up. through a partnership with environmental crime specialists But I know you elected us to do the very best we can to l We have increased the level of each fine from £75 to £80 continue to provide the services people need while l We have introduced a borough wide Controlled Drinking Zone, making the best use of the reduced funding we have giving the police extra powers to deal with anti-social behaviour to work with. involving alcohol This will mean changes to what the council can l We are consulting on a new Cumulative Impact Zone in provide and not everyone will be happy. But we will Mitcham which could make it harder for more licensed premises continue to make these changes in a business-like way. to open there, if agreed. We’ll continue to look for better deals from our suppliers and to find new ways of providing services. We’ll invest in technology so we can save money. And we’ll invest in What you can do to help: new libraries that are less expensive to run. l Report crime and anti-social behaviour. Call 999 if it So on Small Business Saturday I might serve you fish is an emergency, 101 if there is no emergency or call and chips or a curry. But 365 days a year I want to serve our anti-social behaviour team on 020 8274 4907 you up a business-like council. l Get involved in your local Neighbourhood Watch: www.mertonnhw.co.uk l Take part in our 2015 survey: merton.gov.uk/safermertonconsultation PS Congratulations to all our young people on their A level and GCSE results. I’m proud we’ve been Cover: Pupils at St Mary’s RC Primary School, Wimbledon. named the fastest improving borough in London Photograph by Paul Tanner Photography. when it comes to GCSEs – well done everyone! mymerton Issue 63 • Autumn 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: Bronwen Pickering. Feature contributions News 4 from 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 Healthy Merton 9 Email [email protected] www.cliffe-enterprise.com Making a difference to the My Merton is distributed health of the community by London Letterbox. Contact 020 8940 0666 or log Merton’s on to www.londonletterbox.co.uk role in WW1 15 The people behind quick reference the names carved in keyservices our stone memorials Switchboard: 020 8274 4901 Anti-social behaviour 5 minutes with 32 hotline: 020 8274 4907 London Fire Brigade Council tax: 020 8274 4904 Borough Commander Benefits advice: Julian Spooner 020 8545 4178 Regulars Libraries: 020 8545 3783 10 Parking: 020 8545 4661 A Merton Environment 12 Registering to vote: Boost recycling in 020 8545 3407 education for all every room of the house Waste collection services: 020 8274 4902 What’s on 25 Your guide to all that’s going contactus on in Merton this autumn 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] 16 18 The London Borough of Merton www.facebook.com/mertoncouncil does not accept responsibility Colliers Wood Love your street for or endorse any products or Keeping Merton clean services offered by advertisers. makeover Revitalising the town centre My Merton costs only @Merton_Council 12p a copy to produce When you have finished with this magazine please recycle it. 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This edition of opportunity to get involved in My Merton is distributed from 11 September 2015. www.youtube.com/mertoncouncil news 4 Keeping Merton informed Merton Young bowlers bask in adult Pupils from Wimbledon Park School celebrating their success success with Barry Willingham (front), Charlie Parrish, Luke Meah-Wilson and Jonathan Winter (back) from education Wimbledon Park Bowls Club Children from Merton’s primary schools were up for the challenge update this summer to become lawn The council is committed to bowls champions for 2015. ensuring residents are able to For the second year running enjoy a high quality adult Wimbledon Park School celebrated education service in Merton victory in John Innes Park, home which fits the reduced level of to organisers of the event, Merton government funding and offers Park Bowls Club. Schools went good value for money to all the head-to-head for the prized trophy borough’s tax payers. following coaching sessions given The council has been working by members of Merton, Merton with learners and community Park, Mitcham and Wimbledon groups on shaping a new adult Park bowls clubs leading up to education service for Merton the tournament. The trophy which is resilient to the reduced was presented by John Tucker, funding available and can be president of Surrey County enjoyed by generations of Bowls Association. learners to come. find out more merton.gov.uk/bowling_greens Latest on Morden Leisure Centre Since the last issue of My Merton, The London Road side of for money leisure centre is the council has started the Morden Park is the proposed being built. Once the new process of recruiting a team of site for the centre. Chosen centre is built, the council specialists, including a leisure for its prime location and will return the current leisure centre design company and accessibility, building here centre site to public open space. architects, to work on a brand ensures that the existing pool find out more new affordable family leisure can remain open for residents merton.gov.uk/leisureformorden centre in Morden. to use while the new value Learning furniture restoration Civil enforcement officers wear body cameras Merton Council’s civil enforcement officers (CEOs) are now wearing body cameras in a bid to deter abusive and aggressive behaviour many of them have to face from motorists who break parking rules. The council’s parking team will be able to use footage of threatening behaviour as evidence to prosecute the perpetrators and give CEOs confidence to carry out their duties without fear of abuse. The cameras are only to be used in the event of a confrontation. find out more merton.gov.uk/parking Merton – proud to be a Fairtrade borough • Merton – proud to be a Fairtrade borough • Merton – proud to be a Fairtrade borough • Merton – proud to be a Fairtrade borough • Merton – proud to be a Fairtrade borough • Merton – proud to be a Fairtrade borough news Keeping Merton informed 5 Merton celebrates exam success Merton’s schools and sixth the fastest improving GCSE forms celebrated the success of results in London over the last students across the borough this five years, at the time of going to summer after eagerly awaiting press, provisional GCSE results A-Level and GCSE results.