5G

Ingrid Dickenson raised the impact of the roll out of 5G Wi-Fi on resident’s health as the plans would greatly increase areas impacted by radiation. A petition signed by 220 scientists from 35 countries has called for a moratorium on the installation of 5G and 300 city Mayors in the USA are threatening to sue the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) due to the lack of research undertaken. More information is available at: http://www.iemfa.org/emf-scientist-appeal-to-the-united-nations/  http://www.bemri.org/news.html 

https://takebackyourpower.net/gestapo-in-usa-5g-fcc-intimidates-press-kills-free-speech/

Harris Academy Wimbledon

Peter Walker raised concern about the impact of air pollution on the construction of the new Harris Academy school for 1100 pupils on High Path and the neighbouring Merton Abbey Primary School. The submission from Harris to the Planning Applications Committee suggested there was nothing to worry about but this was in contradiction to the Air Quality Audit from the Mayor of London. The audit can be found at: https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/environment/pollution-and-air-quality/mayors-school-air-quality-audit-programme. Mr Walker said building the new school on that site would make air quality worse and called on residents to press the Mayor of London, the Leader of the Council and the Planning Applications Committee to not go ahead.

Details of the planning application can be found at http://planning.merton.gov.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorerAA/GeneralSearch.aspx, reference number 18/P1921, and comments can be received until 9 October.

Other residents commented that land from Merton Abbey should not be lost, that the construction phase would have a huge impact on the school and that the Planning Applications Committee should be independent and fair, not party political. There was also disappointment that bids for Merton Hall were viewed in private not public and that works had taken place before the bids were received.

Cllr Stringer said she understood concerns about the impact of construction but that the new school would not have any additional impact on air quality. The new schools would use playing fields on Nursery Road so there would not be any impact on Merton Abbey Rec. 

Cllr Gretton called on the Council to reconsider the plans.

Morley Park

A resident expressed concerns, on behalf of the Friends of Morley Park, about the delay in the transfer of the land from Barkley Homes to Merton Council and the resulting loss of amenity to residents. The resident also wanted to know if Barkley Homes would be charged for

Kris Witherington said that this issue had been raised at the Raynes Park Community Forum last week and Neil Milligan, Head of Development Control, said that the delay had been due to the need to remove Japanese knotweed from the site before handover. The council is insisting that Barkley Homes take out a significant liability insurance against the knotweed returning in the next ten years and once that was resolved the land could be handed over to Merton Council.

The meeting agreed that the following motion should be submitted to Council by Councillor Holmes:

“That the Cabinet Member be asked to report back promptly on how they propose to bring negotiations with Barkley Homes over Morley Park to a rapid conclusion and open the park consistent with the planning consent.”