Notes of the meeting held at Merton Civic Centre on 18th January  2001

Steve Clark LBM
Marcus Beale WCF UDTF

Local area workshops: Luc Moens joins MB/UDTF to assist in follow up of local issues. Will join us for next quarterly meeting. WCF will be planning a programme of 2001 meetings over the next few weeks.

Update on local govt area forums. Peter Davis of WCF attended the scrutiny meeting regarding a) local area forums and b) future of consultative bodies. As regards urban design, the role of the Conservation Areas Advisory Committee is still being considered, may have a role of giving independent design rather than conservation advice.

CABE promoting quality in public buildings - design champion within LBM? Steve Clark will take this forward direct with CABE - MB provided contact details.

Merton Priory - UDTF report An exhibition of the proposed scheme is on display at Merton Abbey Mills this week.

Wimbledon. The proposals for the site between Elys and Natwest bank in St George’s Road will be going to committee this month. The P3 site is on its way and due to open at Easter.

Civic Hall - progress. Full feasibility study has shown that the basement parking presents problems and results in a tall building if all the accommodation is to be fitted in. MB said that whilst hoping that the fund raising target will be reached, one should be preparing now for the eventuality that it may not. If so what is the disposal process. SC confirmed that if the scheme does not go ahead he expects the disposal process to be via the market, but any proposal which must include some community facilities. How much and hat community facilities - could this be a loo, for example? In theory - yes. MB suggested that the planning requirement was a factor in the market value of the site and there might be a conflict of interest within LBM as ‘interested’ land owner and ‘disinterested’ planning authority. SC said that this was in theory possible, some planning departments nationally had expressed concerns over this kind of issue - he had never found it to be a problem at Merton. These are dealt with by separate committees. MB suggested this may be a theme for the WC UDTF to pick up on and explore.

Raynes Park. Thames Water is going to vacate another site in Raynes park - there is a proposal for a food store on the car park - which can accommodate both store and car park. There is an application for a ‘super-pub’ now in on the old Co-Op site. Competing schemes for the library are now in property and leisure are assessing on a matrix of factors. Some interesting schemes were received. Some consultation has already taken place. Will be decided in the spring.

Wimbledon Park. A further meeting with local councillors and task force (Stephen Saul) took place and issues brought forward - a number of small scale things, also a discussion as to the pros and cons for this area. Pete Smith has been appointed ‘area champion’ within LBM.