A petition against plans to privatise the borough’s parks and waste management has attracted hundreds of signatures ahead of a public meeting tomorrow.

Conservative councillor David Dean has organised a debate after strong public reaction to Merton Council’s £32m cost-cutting plans which could see parks management and waste collection privatised.

A petition entitled Save Merton’s Parks has 451 signatures calling for the council to, among other things, retain control over the parks services locally, and for improvements to either maintain or improve the service.

The SLWP will procure the contract for parks and waste management.  

Merton Conservatives have called in the decision made by the cabinet on Monday, November 10 which means it will be open to scrutiny at a meeting sometime soon.

The plans are to set up an integrated contract for waste collection, street cleaning, winter maintenance, commercial waste and vehicle maintenance.

Sutton and Merton councils could work together on grounds maintenance, including parks, arboriculture and grass verges as part of the South London Waste Partnership.

The proposals are part of moves to fill a projected council budget gap of £32m over the next four years.

Jane Plant of the Merton Tree Warden group said: "Something as major as this should be widely consulted on.

"Time should be given to get it right if it does go ahead.

"I am very concerned that it is going ahead.

"The council is throwing parks management away with waste and litter."

Dan Goode, founder of litter campaign group Merton Matters, said: "The idea that volunteers will pick up the slack from a company protecting its own profits is laughable.

"Parks should be secured for future generations - this doesn’t make any sense at all."

Merton Council cabinet member for environmental cleanliness and parking Councillor Judy Saunders said: “The SLWP has huge expertise and experience in procuring contracts and will get the best deal for all the partnership boroughs and the tax-payer too.

"The partnership will commission environmental services specialists from 2017 to carry out waste collections and keep our parks clean.

"We are having to look at different ways of delivering quality services that are good value to the tax-payer.

"The government is continuing to reduce its funding to local authorities meaning we’re going to have to save £32m over the next four years." 

Coun Dean said: "Merton Council’s Labour politicians are making a monumental mistake in hiving off the borough’s park maintenance to SLWP.

"Clearly, this organisation has no experience and will make a complete hash of one of the stand-out reasons for living in Merton; our gorgeous parks. 

"The fact that nearly 500 have signed a petition in six days shows the strength of feeling of residents."

To sign the petition, visit the website here.

Coun Dean will chair a meeting on Tuesday, November 25 from 7.15pm to 9.15pm at the Civic Offices in Morden.