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Along with many local residents, I attended the street party or rather the wake to mark the passing of Wimbledon Park Library. On the opposite side of the street lay what is now the disused site of the local branch of Barclays Bank. Many are asking how much more of our local amenities and civic space are to be eroded before our very eyes. But we must also ask ourselves, is it not time we came together as a community in a sustained way, to halt and if possible reverse that decline?
As the local MP and as someone who loves books, I can well understand how much Wimbledon Park library was valued. I was upset by Merton Council's decision to press ahead with the closure and I did what I could to prevent this. At the same time, I hope this experience will not defeat the community spirit that was brought out so strongly by the campaign. It is precisely because we were not able to change things for the better in respect of the library closure that the community must speak up now about the changes for the better that are needed in Wimbledon Park in the future.
One way of coming together to articulate the community's needs and interests is through the local area meetings of the kind currently being set up by Wimbledon Civic Forum in collaboration with residents' associations. The forums bring local people together in a community planning exercise. Everyone has the chance to have a say.
This has worked well in Raynes Park. Through the Forum, local people have been able to identify how they would like to see Raynes Park change in the future. Key priorities include extending pedestrian area in Raynes Park, and the development of the local shops and businesses. Subsequently, the Forum has fed these views into the planning processes at the Council and is now monitoring the Council's response.
Wimbledon Civic Forum and the Wimbledon Park Residents' Association are planning a similar open meeting on the evening of Thursday 23rd June in Wimbledon Park. More details will be available nearer the time, but please make a provisional date in your diary to come to this meeting . There is still so much worth playing and fighting for to secure the long term future and maintain the wonderful character of Wimbledon Park.
Roger Casale MP
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