After nearly 2,500 votes were cast by Merton residents, a winner has been announced for the first round of the Merton Legacy Fund. We are delighted to announce that Option C – “Breathing new life into public spaces” – is the winner of the first £3 million of funding, which will see transformative community projects delivered across the borough.
The winning Merton Legacy Fund projects included in Option C, which will now be delivered, include:
- A new BMX pump track and basketball court for Morden Park
- Womble themed improvements to our libraries
- Brand new outdoor gyms in parks across the borough
- New and upgraded street lighting
- New playground equipment
- Community designed improvements in our parks
- And rain gardens to help green up our neighbourhoods and reduce the risk of flooding
More information on these projects is at the end of this release.
These ideas came from more than 2,000 public suggestions, and were voted on by nearly 2,500 local people. The vote between three different lists of projects ran for six weeks from 20 January–3 March, with Option C receiving the most votes.
The projects will share the first £3 million of the £15 million that has been committed to community-chosen projects that will make lasting difference to our neighbourhoods, benefitting residents today and for generations to come.
This funding is only possible because we turned a council-owned company into a global success story – earning us millions when we sold it – and it’s yet another example of how our strong financial management has made it possible to do more of the things that matter to you and your family.
Councillor Ross Garrod, Leader of Merton Council, said: “Thank you to everyone who took part in shaping the Merton Legacy Fund, whether you gave us a suggestion, helped us to shortlist, or cast a vote to decide our winner – this process has been led by Merton residents from start to finish. Now the council will get to work on delivering the projects you have chosen.”
“The Merton Legacy Fund goes to show what’s possible when we manage our finances well, and make good decisions on behalf of the people of Merton. The money we raised from selling a council-owned company – CHAS – is going to benefit the whole borough in so many ways, and I’m excited to see the winning projects come to life over the coming months.”
Here’s more detail on what will be delivered through the winning choice for the first year of the Merton Legacy Fund:
- Rain gardens – these help reduce the risk of flooding while also making streets greener and more attractive. They collect and soak up rainwater from roads and pavements, slowing the flow of water during heavy rain and reducing pressure on drains and sewers.
- Womble-themed enhancements at Merton libraries – The Wombles are an important part of Merton’s heritage and are set to become popular again, with new films, books and a television series planned in the coming years. Investing in Womble-themed books, resources and play equipment in all seven children’s libraries will help children and families feel a strong connection to Merton. Library events and activities for children will support these improvements and help bring the spaces to life.
- New street lighting – Installing more street lighting across the borough will help people feel safer, especially after dark. Better lighting helps women and girls feel more confident being out at night, improves visibility for both drivers and pedestrians, and helps deter crime. It also encourages more evening activity and supports local businesses that operate at night.
- Outdoor gyms in parks – New and improved, free-to-use outdoor gym equipment in Oakleigh Way Recreation Ground, Pollards Hill Recreation Ground and Haydon’s Road Recreation Ground. Funding will also go toward the creation of more ‘Swing Boxes’ across the borough, giving residents access to fitness and weight-training equipment in parks.
- Park playground upgrades – Upgrading park playgrounds to make sure children of all ages have access to fun, safe and easy-to-use play spaces across the borough.
- Morden Park pump track – A new purpose-built track for cycling, scooting and BMX. It will be suitable for older children, teenagers and adults, giving them a purpose-built, year-round facility for sport, exercise and skills development.
- Morden Park basketball court – A new basketball court will provide a free place for people to play casually, take part in informal coaching and give young people more opportunities to be active. More ‘Equip’ boxes, lockers which contain free-to-use or low-cost sports equipment, will also be funded, giving residents better access to sports gear.
- Community-designed park improvements – Plans have been developed with local Friends of Parks groups, and the improvements will help protect and enhance parks that already meet high Green Flag standards. Projects include help to reduce flooding near homes by using natural solutions such as tree planting, wetlands and features that slow down and soak up rainwater.
