Ideas for the park’s future look unlikely without vital council funding
A HAVEN for young and old is what Morden residents would like from their park – but without council funding their recommendations, published on October 14, are going nowhere.
Ideas for the park, which has five hectares of woodland, include a BMX track, a skate park, play areas and sports facilities.
Conservation and heritage rank highly, with suggestions for a wind turbine, a hay meadow, a pond and wildlife information signs.
Without vital capital the project’s future is in jeopardy, and Merton Council will not dig deep to improve the Epsom road site.
Alternatives such as a Community Trust or levying Council Tax payers will be considered at a Cabinet meeting on November 9.
Local Dialogue, a specialist communication agency, held four workshops and distributed questionnaires to come up with the 28 point vision.
Max Camplin, from Local Dialogue said: “It is clear that people value the park as a beautiful open green space as well as a resource for sport, recreation and learning.”
Residents would like to see the bandstand used for live events, possibly providing revenue, while football, cricket and tennis topped their sports priorities list.
The wish list argues for increased disabled access and a park warden, creating a safe environment for all.
Schools and community groups contributed to the plans, which cover eight areas: sport, nature, access and security, events, play, young people, history and heritage, and ‘Delivering the Vision’.
In 2008 a Save Morden Park campaign halted the council leasing the site to Goals, a private company which intended to build football pitches, multi-sport areas, a car park and a clubhouse with licensed bar on part of the park.
