'Mucky Merton' campaign seeks financial backing after receiving public support

The hashtag ‘Mucky Merton’, has become a movement in its own right, with campaign leader Dan Goode meeting with Mitcham and Morden MP Siobhain McDonagh last week.

November 4: Cleaning up their act: Mucky Merton campaign gets attention of Siobhain McDonagh MP

And now Mr Goode is hoping for more official support from the council.

Merton Council said it launched the Love Your Street campaign in response to people saying they wanted the council to take action against people who litter the streets.

The council also successfully prosecuted two men who pleaded guilty to fly tipping in the borough, on November 3.

Mr Goode said: "Siobhain was receptive to what we were saying. She said the campaign was good, but because of the financial situation in the council we would need sponsorship, and we should raise it.

Andrew Boyce posted this photograph taken in High Path, South Wimbledon 

"But surely the council should be the ones raising it? They’re the ones with all the contacts.

"The council have plans to increase the population of Morden. If you can’t cope with our present population, what’s going to happen when 1,000 more flats are being built?

"And what are we saying to potential investors if they come and the place isn’t clean? What does it say to people visiting the area, just passing through and seeing rubbish on the streets?"

All week readers have been contacting the Wimbledon Guardian with concerns about the amount of litter in Merton.

Mrs and Mrs Callegari have complained to the council about the "disgusting" level of litter and cigarette butts in Raynes Park, while James Millar often collects three large bags of rubbish in Worple Road, Arterberry Road, the Ridgeway and Wimbledon Hill during his litter picks.

Mr and Mrs Callegari sent in this photograph of litter in Raynes Park 

Lesley J Kaufman, who lives near Mitcham Eastfields Station, described the litter situation as an "absolute disgrace", and complained that they have not seen a street cleaner or litter picker for many months.

Beth Mitchell, of Melrose Avenue, Wimbledon Park, said: "Several times recently my recycling has not been collected. My bins are full every week and if they're not collected they start to overflow.

"Over recent months it's been noticed the council often ‘forget’ to collect something and even a couple of times the actual rubbish. And even when you complain on the website it's ignored and not collected until the following week."

Beth Mitchell sent in this photograph of her uncollected recycling 

Merton's cabinet member for environmental cleanliness and parking, Councillor Judy Saunders, said: "The council launched its Love Your Street campaign this year because residents told us they want to take action against people who litter our streets.

"Since April, in partnership with the community, we have held over 10 clean-up events with more planned in the near future.

"We are happy to meet with others in the borough who want to get involved."

Anyone who wants to get involved in the 'Mucky Merton' campaign should contact Dan Goode on mertonmatters1@gmail.com or @MertonMatters

Two fly tippers have been prosecuted for dumping bricks and sacks in Merton.

Jason Gervais, 50, of Zermatt Road, Thornton Heath and Piotr Bedkowski, 24, of Epsom Road, Morden, both pleaded guilty to the charge of depositing controlled waste at Lavender Hill Magistrates Court on November 3.

Mr Gervais dumped a builder’s bag of bricks in the Lowry Crescent car park, Mitcham. He was ordered to pay a £300 fine and £150 in council costs, as well as a criminal court charge of £150 and a £30 victim surcharge.

Mr Bedkowski dumped black sacks, some of which contained old wooden panels with protruding nails, in Epsom Road, Morden. He was ordered to pay a £300 fine and £300 in council costs, as well as a £150 criminal court charge and a £30 victim surcharge.