Latest news with #MertonCouncil
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Tree of the year' threatened by housing scheme
A 70-year old tree that was to be the focal point of a south London housing scheme may have to be felled due to the effect the development could have on it, according to a planning report. The Japanese pagoda was a key feature in Merton Council's controversial plans to build 93 new homes on Mitcham's Canons House heritage site, with the homes to be built to face it. But the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) said the scheme was likely to have "significant, unavoidable impacts, both above and below ground" on the tree, which was once named as the borough's "tree of the year". Merton Council was approached for a response, but said it could not comment on live planning applications. The RHS report was prepared for the planning requirements designed to protect the tree. The report went on to say that the likely harm amounted to a "well-justified argument for removal and replacement of the tree". It also noted that the amount of canopy needing to be removed "will greatly diminish the tree's local visual amenity value" and "compromise the tree's ability to photosynthesise and produce energy". The site, in the grounds of the Grade II-listed Canons House, is undergoing major improvement works, after being awarded £4.4m in National Lottery funding. The council housing scheme has attracted criticism due to its potential impact on the heritage site. The group Mitcham Cricket Green Community & Heritage said the threat to the tree was the latest in a series of concerns members had about the scheme. Chair Tony Burton said: "This puts at risk the benefits of nearly £5m, which has just been spent with support from the National Lottery on this premier heritage location. "Whatever the pros and cons of allowing development, everyone agrees that the award-winning pagoda tree should be the focal point of any new housing." Merton Council wants to build about 400 new homes on four separate sites in the borough, to help address a housing shortage. The borough has one of the longest estimated timescales in England for clearing its social housing waiting list. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Century-long wait for family council homes - study The families living in modern day slums Merton Council
BBC News
04-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Tree may need felling in Mitcham housing scheme
A 70-year old tree that was to be the focal point of a south London housing scheme may have to be felled due to the effect the development could have on it, according to a planning Japanese pagoda was a key feature in Merton Council's controversial plans to build 93 new homes on Mitcham's Canons House heritage site, with the homes to be built to face the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) said the scheme was likely to have "significant, unavoidable impacts, both above and below ground" on the tree, which was once named as the borough's "tree of the year".Merton Council was approached for a response, but said it could not comment on live planning applications. The RHS report was prepared for the planning requirements designed to protect the tree. The report went on to say that the likely harm amounted to a "well-justified argument for removal and replacement of the tree".It also noted that the amount of canopy needing to be removed "will greatly diminish the tree's local visual amenity value" and "compromise the tree's ability to photosynthesise and produce energy". The site, in the grounds of the Grade II-listed Canons House, is undergoing major improvement works, after being awarded £4.4m in National Lottery council housing scheme has attracted criticism due to its potential impact on the heritage group Mitcham Cricket Green Community & Heritage said the threat to the tree was the latest in a series of concerns members had about the Tony Burton said: "This puts at risk the benefits of nearly £5m, which has just been spent with support from the National Lottery on this premier heritage location. "Whatever the pros and cons of allowing development, everyone agrees that the award-winning pagoda tree should be the focal point of any new housing."Merton Council wants to build about 400 new homes on four separate sites in the borough, to help address a housing borough has one of the longest estimated timescales in England for clearing its social housing waiting list.
Metro
02-05-2025
- General
- Metro
One of London's ‘Trees of the Year' could be felled to build council housing
One of London's 'Trees of the Year' could be cut down to make way for council housing. The Pagoda Tree, which is around 70-years-old, sits in the centre of Mitcham's Canons heritage site in Merton, south London. It was named the borough's Tree of the Year in 2019, with the area seeing nearly £5 million of National Lottery investment in recent years. But the council owned land has now been named as one of four sites where 93 new homes are set to be built. A report from the Royal Horticultural Society has said the tree faces an existential threat. This is despite original plans submitted in 2019 calling the tree a 'focal point of the scheme and a key retained landscape feature'. The council's said: 'Should the tree be retained, it was likely to suffer some significant, unavoidable impacts both above and below ground which, when taken together, amounted to a well-justified argument for removal and replacement of the tree.' The surrounding canopy will also need to be removed to make way for the homes, which 'will greatly diminish the tree's local visual amenity value' and 'compromise the tree's ability to photosynthesise and produce energy'. More Trending Mitcham Cricket Green Community and Heritage Group said: 'The tree is an extroadinary specimen and part of the large collection of mature trees across The Canons grounds. 'This arboretum is the result of careful selection and planting in the grounds over many years. 'The nursery site is now the focus of attention for a significant housing development by Merton Council's own development company Merantun Development.' Merton Council has been contacted for comment. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Enjoy the warmth while you can – it's fizzling out just in time for the bank holiday MORE: Man killed his neighbour, 74, in row over shutting a gate in Covent Garden MORE: Man denies murdering schoolboy, 14, who was nearly decapitated in sword rampage
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Authorities race to contain massive fuel spill contaminating local waters: 'This should never have happened'
Authorities issued urgent warnings in February after a diesel spill polluted the River Wandle, an "at-risk" chalk stream in southwest London, per the BBC. An estimated 4,000 liters of diesel leaked from a bus depot storage tank in Thornton Heath, Croydon, ultimately spreading from Wallington to Wandsworth. Merton Council confirmed that the spill has severely affected the Watermeads Nature Reserve, a vital habitat for species like brown trout and kingfishers. The public has been advised to avoid the area. The River Wandle is one of London's few chalk streams, a globally rare ecosystem that has been the focus of conservation efforts. Residents have already reported birds coated in oil and struggling to clean themselves. "This should never have happened," said Bobby Dean, the Liberal Democrat MP for Carshalton and Wallington, to BBC News. He noted that the spill has undone "decades of work by hundreds of volunteers who have helped restore the Wandle from an ecologically dead river to a thriving ecosystem." Diesel spills are particularly harmful because diesel coats surfaces, suffocates aquatic life, and seeps into the food chain. The long-term consequences could include reduced biodiversity and contamination of surrounding wetlands. According to the BBC, Thames Water has previously indicated that it "may not take action to protect the river from sewage until 2035" with "potential works on the Wandle possibly brought forward to 2027." Thus, this disaster raises concerns about immediate and ongoing threats to the Wandle's future. The Environment Agency has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the spill. Once it has the information it needs, it intends to hold the responsible parties accountable. Meanwhile, conservation groups and local volunteers are working to rescue affected wildlife. "Our waterways and wetlands are precious environments, and any pollution incident can greatly affect our wildlife," said a spokesperson for the National Trust, which manages the Morden Hall Park and Watermeads Nature Reserve, according to The Standard. "Our teams are working closely with the Environment Agency to help ensure the site can recover as quickly as possible." How often do you worry about the quality of your drinking water? Never Sometimes Often Always Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. There is hope for better spill detection and cleanup solutions in the future. For instance, researchers from China's Harbin Institute of Technology have developed a bio-inspired filtering system based on deep-sea sponges that could revolutionize oil spill response. There have been other developments too. Scientists at Russia's Skolkovo Institute of Technology have created an artificial-intelligence-powered "e-nose" that can detect oil spills far more efficiently than current methods, allowing for quicker containment. In the meantime, residents can help by reporting any sightings of distressed wildlife to local authorities, supporting conservation efforts, and volunteering with local environmental groups. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Warning to avoid River Wandle after diesel spill
Merton Council has warned the public to avoid the River Wandle after a major diesel spill polluted the "at-risk" south-west London chalk stream. The spill had spread from Wallington to Wandsworth, causing significant damage to local wildlife and water quality, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) reported. About 4,000 litres of diesel reportedly leaked from a bus depot storage tank in Thornton Heath, Croydon. The spillage entered the river and surface water drains and spread throughout the river. Residents reported seeing birds coated in oil, struggling to clean themselves and survive in the contaminated water. The LDRS said despite the efforts of emergency teams from the Environment Agency, there were growing concerns about the long-term damage to the river's ecosystem. Merton Council confirmed the spill had severely impacted the Watermeads Nature Reserve in Mitcham, with numerous local wildlife species already affected by the oil. Stuart Neaverson, Labour councillor for the Colliers Wood ward, near the Wandle, said online the London Fire Brigade (LFB) had been working to contain the spill, with fire trucks and officers "trying their best to stop the flow and take the pollutants out of the river". Thames Water is also involved in the clean-up efforts and the public is advised to stay clear of the contaminated water. Merton Council also urged residents to avoid allowing pets into the water and to refrain from feeding wildlife, as doing so could result in animals ingesting the harmful pollutants. According to the LDRS, the Environment Agency said it had launched a full investigation into the cause of the spill and Merton Council said it would provide updates as more information becomes available. Concerns remain high over the lasting effects on the river, which has been a focus of environmental efforts for many years. Bobby Dean, the Lib Dem MP for Carshalton and Wallington, who has previously campaigned to improve the protection of the Wandle, said he was pushing the Environment Agency for answers, an immediate clean-up plan and safeguards to ensure "something like this never occurs again". "This should never have happened," he added. The River Wandle begins in the North Downs and flows nine miles (14km) through Sutton, Croydon, and Wandsworth before reaching the Thames. One of London's few chalk streams, it is home to brown trout, chub, barbel and roach, making it a popular spot for anglers. However, a report by the LDRS last year found that Thames Water may not take action to protect the river from sewage until 2035. Thames Water is conducting an ecological assessment to determine priorities, with potential works on the Wandle possibly brought forward to 2027. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Wildlife hit as River Wandle polluted by diesel The 'citizen scientists' testing Thames pollution Boat Race rowers told not to enter dirty Thames Merton Council Environment Agency
