Merton wants to talk but will it listen?
Autumn
2007
Beds at the Main Entrance in 2006 (far left) and 2007 (left) after Merton's failure to plant summer bedding for the first time. Cannizaro was just one of the parks throughout the borough where the decision not to plant the usual colourful summer flowers brought strong protests from residents and park supporters groups.
MERTON Council plans what it calls “a major discussion and listening exercise” with local residents this autumn in order to “refresh our shared vision and ambition for the borough”.
Leader David Williams wrote to Friends of Cannizaro Park and other environmental groups offering talks with councillors and officials. We have now been invited to meet Environment portfolio holder Councillor Tariq Ahmed to discuss this summer’s lack of bedding plants. The outcome will be announced in due course.
In his letter Mr Williams made no reference to the group’s commitment of funds to save the Sunken Garden and future planting or to Merton’s refusal to support the Friends’ bid for Heritage Lottery grant funding to safeguard the park.
We have already agreed to help fund some bulbs for next season. Now we must decide where best to invest reserves that we have built up mainly through subscriptions, donations and fund-raising events as well as the sale of booklets, postcards and DVDs.
The Friends are also committed to supporting the upgrading of Cannizaro’s Artists Studios. Leased from Merton by the arts group ACAVA, these are used for occasional open days by local artists.
The upgrading, mainly funded by an Arts Council grant, would involve extra studios as well as a gallery area for exhibitions and workshops. The new installations would be robust steel structures with translucent roof, polycarbon-coated to let in light, and heated for use year-round.
However we need to raise far more money - or to secure a grant - to pay for the park’s overall restoration work. The latter would only be possible with supporting funds from Merton as well as our own contribution.