CWRA – Annual Report : 2020/21


Introduction

It’s been a difficult year for the Committee, with all meetings being held via Zoom and with so much going on in the area. The Committee has worked hard to keep momentum up and represent the residents as much as possible, whilst managing jobs, shops, home schooling and numerous other
COVID-19 challenges.

Latest Issues

We have focused mainly on the following local issues:

  • New Merton Local Plan
  • Taller Towers for Colliers Wood
  • Cycle Lane Issues
  • Merton Vision Site Redevelopment
  • Veolia Waste Collections/Street Cleaning

We have also developed sub-groups to lead on key pieces of work:

Development Sub-Group

The Association has set up a Development sub-group to respond to Criterion’s plans to build another two towers beside Britannia Point.  The group has liaised with the developer and responded to the Local Plan consultation.  Residents have been encouraged to respond to the local plan.

Friends of Colliers Wood Parks and Green Spaces

During the first Lockdown the Parks and Open Spaces sub group was reactivated, now the Friends of Colliers Wood Parks and Green Spaces.  The aim is to enhance the colour and biodiversity of the parks and green spaces, including the streets, working with the contractors to achieve this and being
the eyes and ears, reporting when anything needs attention and fixing.

The group was formally launched in both parks over a wet and windy weekend in September. Margaret Rogers was elected as chair at the first formal meeting in November.  Activities have had to change with the various stages of lockdown but green fingered volunteers have been renewing the planters in and around Colliers Wood, helping in Myrna Close Nature Reserve, litter picking, and bulb planting for the spring.  The group have received funds from the ward allocation fund, thanks to Laxmi Attawar and our local councillors, the Wandle Valley Forum, and idVerde, the company that maintain the parks in Merton, will be donating equipment and high visibility vests in the spring.  Practical help has come from Sustainable Merton.
In addition to this, there have been a number of activities for our younger residents, an area of work we are hoping to develop in the future. At the suggestion of the Residents’ Association Committee, three additional diffuser tubes have been placed around Colliers Wood.  The tubes measure the levels of nitrogen dioxide in the air.  This is part of a Citizens Science project facilitated by Merton Council.

Website and Social Media

Thanks to some new volunteers, we have made some big improvements to our social media. The website has been completely overhauled and we now have a much improved Facebook and Twitter presence. This is another area that we plan to develop over the next year

Finances

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