5. Environmental Projects in Merton
There are many examples in Merton of work which lead to environmental, social and
economic benefits. Below are just a few examples, across several sectors of the community.
1. High Path Estate Environmental Regeneration
Groundwork Merton and the Abbey Partnership Policing Initiative co-ordinated a project to
enhance the environment of the High Path Estate. This involved working with the High Path
Tenants’ Association, the Council, South West London Probation Service, Merton Abbey
First School and the Metropolitan Police.
The innovative ‘Planning for Real’ technique was adopted, where a 3 dimensional model of
the area was made and used as the focus for discussions with the community and for
recording of opinions. Local residents expressed their views on how they would like the
Estate to be improved.
Residents prioritised the need for a mural, a toddler playground, an avenue of tree-andshrub borders, a community garden and a kick-about area. All of these have now been built,
and the project has led to the development of another playground for 8-12 year olds and a
second community garden. The project facilitated the accessing of funding for a youthwork
programme which has actively involved young people in the further enhancement of the
environment and life on the estate.
2. Collecting the views of young people on Environmental Issues
Several schools in the borough have submitted views of their pupils to the Council as part of
their studies of environmental issues. 10 schools produced the data for the project “Which
Environmental Actions are Easiest?”, described on page 21. Comments from young people
are included in the ‘Foreword’ and the ‘Home Pages’ of this publication. This is part of a
range of initiatives to establish a sustainable and productive dialogue between the Council
and young people. A representative sample of young people’s comments is given below:“Public transport should be more efficient. Should charge more for using the car (eg parking
charges, congestion charges). More security cameras are needed to catch people doing
damage in open spaces. Green boxes should be used better.” Pupil (age 16), Rutlish High
School
“Pedestrianise more regularly used areas.” Xavier Hernandez (age 16), Rutlish High School
“Encourage people to use less cars and use public
transport. Use land to develop more youth activities to
have decline on youth crime.” Thav Phoutlavong (age 16),
Rutlish High School
“More bus lanes and cycle lanes. More frequent bus
services on busy routes during rush hour periods. More
cars need to be taken off the road, by increasing parking
charges, more residential parking zones and more red
routes, pedestrianising areas and congestion charging.
People need to be educated about these schemes. More land needs to be used for the
development of parks and youth centres, instead of housing which causes more congestion
and pollution from cars.” Nick Chopping (age 16), Rutlish High School
“If you don’t pay attention to the natural environment, there is no point in considering other
environmental issues.” David Hyde, (age 16), Rutlish High School
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“We need clear cycle paths in Morden. Around the Civic Centre it’s very unclear.” Pupil (age
16), Rutlish High School
“I think people should stop wasting paper but they should recycle it.” Robin Powers (age 7),
St Mark’s First School
“People should buy less things.” Tonisha Martin (age 8), Wimbledon Park First School
“The dump will be full up if you don’t recycle so if you recycle you will be great help for the
world.” Nirthana Thiruketheeswaran (age 7), Harland First School
“Global warming is killing animals like penguins and polar bears.” Katherine Budd (age 7),
Merton Park First School
“Turn off the lights so the air doesn’t get polluted so we don’t get acid rain and kill trees and
animals.” Laura Radford (age 9), Wimbledon Park First School
“When it’s sunny, turn your lights off.” Jack D’Cruz (age 8), Joseph Hood First School
“Never leave your heating on high when you are out.” Alex Cobb
(age 8), Joseph Hood First School
“I think people should turn down the heating instead of opening
windows.” Pupil, year 3, Joseph Hood First School
“Only have the light on when it is dark!!” Emily Marland (age 7),
Moreton Green First School
“I think people should walk, run, go on trains, bikes, buses, trams
and tubes instead of using cars.” Ronald Boath (age 10), Liberty
Middle School
“When you use cars, you make smoke and this makes global
warming and that is not a good idea.” Jack Beecroft (age 8),
Harland First School
“Walk or cycle to work more.” Nicole Ashbolt (age 8), Joseph Hood First School
“Cars cause smoke from petrol. Smoke is bad because it causes global warming, so we
should drive cars less.” Rachel Campbell (age 8) and Drew Bowers (age 7), Moreton Green
First School
“In the future, I would like the world to have no global warming and no waste, loads of
recycling.” William Marlowe (age 10), Liberty Middle School
2. The Eco-Schools Award Scheme - Haslemere, Wimbledon Park and Pelham
Primary/First Schools
The Eco-Schools Award Scheme is run by the Tidy Britain Group in the UK. It is a European
wide award, operating in 21 countries. There are less than 2,000 schools across all of
Europe who have achieved Eco-Schools status. Merton Council promotes and facilitates the
scheme locally. 23 local schools are registered, a higher proportion than any other London
borough.
Assessment is formal and rigorous. It is led by an Eco-Schools Inspector from the Tidy
Britain Group, who reads the application and visits the school.
Haslemere, Wimbledon Park and Pelham have all achieved the award. They established
pupil-led environmental committees. The committees reviewed the schools’ environmental
performances and developed an action plan to improve them. The action plans always
involved the whole school. The committee monitored the school’s success and publicised
their messages to the local community. Children’s families shared in the learning and also
enjoy the benefits of having lower energy bills.
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The schools have also integrated environmental issues into the school curriculum and have
a school Eco-Code, displayed in every classroom.
Each school has saved energy, reduced waste, recycled, saved water and developed a
wildlife area which can be used for study and recreation.
3. Businesses
Empty inkjet and laser cartridges from printers generally get dumped in
landfills. They can, however be cleaned up and used again. They are
worth between 25p and £2.00 each. Merton Businesses are clubbing
together to recycle used cartridges. This will reduce the amount of
waste going to landfill and save valuable resources.
Not only that, but the money raised from this will be given to local
charities. Participating businesses will receive positive publicity through
the scheme. For information about this, contact Earl Marshall, 0800 279
1919.
Green Mark Scheme is a project through which an external consultant can help you to
‘green’ your business cost effectively in order to meet increasing supply chain pressures to
demonstrate environmental performance. This leads to the award of a ‘Green Mark’ which is
a starting point for achieving environmental management system status such as EMAS or
ISO14001. TEL: 020 8545 3457
Green Seeds Project
New or expanding businesses looking to develop environmental products and services can
receive substantial support through the Green Seeds Project. TEL: 020 8545 3457
4. Walking Buses
Walking Buses comprise an adult driver and conductor, who
walk a set route to school and stop at various pick-up points,
where children join the walking bus.
They help to reduce traffic, and fulfill some valuable social
functions. They are a fun way for young children to travel to
school, and they save parents valuable time in the morning.
The following schools already have Walking Buses:
Dundonald, Wimbledon Park, Bishop Gilpin, St Mary’s.
Any businesses wanting to sponsor Walking Buses, call Pat
Dunkley, 020 8545 3207.
5. Merton Community Scrap Scheme
The Scrap Scheme provides a service for the re-use of waste (mostly from businesses), that
could be useful to groups, thereby diverting waste from landfill sites. TEL: 020 8640 9510
6. Gas Powered Vehicles
To reduce pollution from road transport and to stimulate demand for cleaner technologies,
Merton Council operates natural gas powered vehicles for general council services.
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Sign-Ups to Merton Environmental Action Plan
The following community organisations signed-up to specific commitments in the Visions set
out in the Merton Environment Action Plan. (This follows the 50+ organisations who signed
up to the general concept of Local Agenda 21 in 1996.) If your organisation would like to
sign-up, please send details of your commitments (under the activities described in pages 219), a signature, and a copy of your logo to Eddy Taylor, Principal Environment Officer,
Environmental Services, Merton Civic Centre, London Rd, Morden, Surrey SM4 5DX. (This
plan will be produced on the internet, where your logo will be displayed.)
Groundwork Merton
Environment Agency
Merton Cycling Campaign
Greater London Authority – Biodiversity Group
Local Health Authority
Chamber of Commerce
Local Electricity Distributor
Voluntary Service Council
Wimbledon Police
RENUE – renewable energy
Pedestrians Association (Merton Branch)
Threshold Tenant Trust
Merton Going for Green
Wandle Heritage
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London Wildlife Trust (Merton Branch)