by Clive Whichelow, via email
I wonder how many people realise that many of our local community centres, libraries, hospitals, clinics and car parks may soon be redeveloped to make way for flats, offices and shops?
In January, Merton Council published a document entitled Draft Sites and Policies Development Plan.
Within this there is a section headed ‘Potential Sites For New Uses’.
The list includes Wimbledon, Mitcham, and West Barnes libraries, the Nelson, and Wilson hospitals, several clinics and community centres and busy car parks such as those in Hartfield Road and Queen’s Road and at Morden station.
It also includes Wimbledon YMCA and the Plough Lane greyhound stadium, as well as many other sites.
One wonders though how thoroughly these proposals have been thought through.
If a lot of new housing is built in the borough where will all the necessary additional amenities come from?
There is already a shortage of school places, and health services are stretched to the limit.
In the planning document it is suggested in some cases that, if an amenity such as a clinic or a community centre is lost to redevelopment, then provision could be found elsewhere.
But it doesn’t suggest though where this ‘elsewhere’ might be.
People have to read the document and judge for themselves. The deadline for any comments and objections is March 23rd.
In the end we’ll get the borough we deserve whether it is through our actions or our inactions.
Do you have an opinion? Send your letter to: letters@wimbledonguardian.co.uk
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