| CIVIC PRIDE – A SUMMARY OF THE FORUM DISCUSSION
Panellists: Eddie Mares, Location Director, Thames
TV
Kristina Ingate, Institute Secretary, CIPD
Graham Cole, Actor
Tony Kane, Editor, Wimbledon Time & Leisure
Chairman: Paul Windsor, Partner, Windsor Stebbing Marsh
Attendance: 65
Despite this being the first business forum, the main
themes of this open discussion were dominated by the
subject of traffic and young people. There was also
a feeling from the panellists and the body of the meeting
that there were many small things that could be achieved
that would make a big difference to the feeling of the
town but that there was a distinct lack of leadership
to initiate and carry out these much needed elements
that create a sense of civic pride.
Young People
The sense of pride has to be instilled in our young
people. The discussion ranged from opportunities for
the young through a number of local initiatives, delivered
by local agencies to the issues of the young accumulating
outside centre court.
Although there was some negativity about certain aspects
of the young there was an overwhelming feeling that,
if channelled properly, the young could provide significant
impetus towards the creation of pride in Wimbledon and
there was substantial support from the town centre manager
and the Odeon management as well as other local businesses
and the panellists.
The initiatives of Kingston and Merton Education Business
Partnership with schools and local businesses were important
to provide mentoring on issues of pride with teenagers.
Just how this is all co-ordinated or achieved remains
an unanswered question.
Traffic
There was a strong feeling that traffic volumes through
the town and parking issues tended to erode any sense
of community and civic pride. The conversion of garden
space to parking space and the encouragement of street
parking were considered to be detrimental to the local
ascetics. Pedestrian areas would foster pride in the
town centre.
On the other side of the argument, closure of through
roads which were in fact major arteries to London, would
lead to increased use of ‘rat runs’ and,
despite the objection of some drivers, the use of speed
bumps was proven to save lives.
The traffic was in the hands of Merton Council officers
and there was a separate transport forum to follow up
and discuss these issues further.
Transport
It was pointed out that Wimbledon had always been, and
continued to be, an excellent hub for public transport.
This is something that the town should build on with
pride and improve the signage to local attractions and
amenities together with the tidiness and quality of
the transport network.
Leadership
The role of Merton council was questioned and its relevance
to Wimbledon as a town community was raised. No direction
or leadership came from Merton and any resources available
tended to be used in the poorer parts of the borough
and not Wimbledon.
Should the Chamber of Commerce take a more leading
role in the community or should WCF try to take a leading
role.
Action was certainly needed to ensure that there was
a point of focus in Wimbledon and it was clear that
the meeting felt that the business community should
be doing more, particularly regarding the provision
of funding to improve local amenities.
Other points of discussion
· Civic pride might be measured by what the first
impressions of visitors to Wimbledon.
· The town should be ‘sold’ more
by all the local agencies and interested businesses.
· The most liked aspects included:
The countryside feel in a London suburb
Merton Abbey Mills
The quality of the people
The variety of amenities in particular the theatres
Tram services
Lower business rates for local retail businesses
Regular updating of electronic notice board
South Park Gardens – the town centre’s park
· Town planning issues and the development of
the site over the railway.
· Businesses should do more to help the local
environment such as the tables and chairs outside Safeway.
The meeting concluded at 8pm with much private discussion
being stimulated.
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