October 2012
Dear friend,
Hello again, and welcome back to more on the latest news and events here in Mitcham and Morden.
It’s been a busy summer full of activity and we are looking forward to an exciting autumn. This month’s news includes headline news about the FREE Gas & Electricity Exhibition for local residents on Saturday 18th October as well as news and other events and updates so even though the nights are drawing in there is a lot happening.
How to cut your gas and electricity bills
Are you paying too much for your gas or electricity? Could you simply get a better deal? Come along to my FREE gas and electricity day on Saturday 18 October to meet your supplier and check your tariff. Please bring old gas and electricity bills with you to get the best from this service.
Along with a variety of stands giving helpful advice I’ll host a ‘Question & Answer Session’ with Adam Scorer, one of the UK’s leading experts, who will give you easy tips on how to make the most of your gas and electricity.
We’ll also have a representative from Smart Energy GB. They will tell you about the new ‘Smart Meters’ that are being installed in all homes over the next 5 years. ‘Smart Meters’ come with a kitchen monitor that show your gas and electricity use in pounds and pence each hour, day, week, doing away with the need to understand kilowatt hours!
‘Smart Meters’ are installed FREE in your home and show your electricity use in real time, so there’s no need for estimated bills or meter readers. The monitors also alert you about appliances that are left on and will compare your energy use with similar homes so you know if you spend more than you need to. Unfortunately they won’t cook your dinner!
As well as that advice on saving money, we will have a wide variety of advice on housing and finance. Weather permitting there’ll also be lots for the kids to do including bouncy castles and, in the morning, sports coaching. There will be something for everyone at The Hub, Bishopsford Rd, Mitcham on Saturday 18 October between 10am and 4pm
Getting the police to deliver a better service in Mitcham
Thanks again to the more than 200 people who came along to the public meeting about crime that I organised in August. This certainly helped to get our message across to the police about tackling anti-social behaviour in Mitcham. The street drinkers are at the centre of our concerns with their antisocial and unacceptable behaviour including aggressive begging, abuse and littering.
I have since met with PC Neil Phillips and he is ready to apply for ASBOs (Anti-Social Behaviour Orders) to be issued against the main offenders. Although I have passed on your concerns to him, he is keen to hear from residents directly. If you are prepared to give a statement you can email him at neil.j.phillips@met.police.uk
Together I hope we are making Mitcham town centre a better and safer place.
New Clinic for Mitcham
NHS Merton Clinical Commissioning Group is planning to open a new clinic to serve the people of Mitcham. This is exciting and is good news for the residents of Mitcham as it will improve access to health services closer to home. The sites they are considering are Birches Close, Raleigh Gardens, Sibthorpe Road and Wilson Hospital.
If you would like to find out more about the plans you can visit the Merton CCG website. They are in the process of gathering views from the public to help them make their decision. You can have your say by taking part in the online survey.
Free job employment workshops
Need help with your CV, writing covering letters, and interview skills? Christians Against Poverty Merton Job Club are running weekly free job employment workshops covering these topics and many more.
The workshops take place at Cricket Green primary School, Lower Green West, Mitcham CR4 3AF from 9.30am to 12.30pm on Fridays for a period of 8 weeks.
For more information contact Jerry Frempong on 07957 403 750 or by email jerryfrempong@capuk.org
Mitcham Imperials FC awarded a grant
The Football Foundation have awarded the club with a £950 grant under the Grow the Game club development scheme. This will enable the club to create a new team for young players and keep the tradition of the 11 a side game.
This takes the total of grants awarded by the Football Foundation to small clubs in Mitcham and Morden to more than £10 000 over the past 5 years – great news for our young people.
Recycle for “Count The Kicks”
Mitcham and Morden resident Corinne Garrod is collecting other peoples’ rubbish and helping to turn it into much needed funds for UK pregnancy charity Count the Kicks.
Count the Kicks is one of the UK’s leading pregnancy charities which aims to drastically reduce the number of families that experience the tragedy of a stillbirth. By educating expectant mums on the importance of monitoring their unborn baby’s movements, the charity aim to cut the number of stillbirths by a third from its estimated current level of 17 a day in the UK.
They raise funds through a recycling scheme across the UK collecting baby wipe packets, baby food pouches, Tassimo coffee pods, sweet biscuit wrappers, used stamps, printer ink cartridges clothes and shoes.
If you would like further information on Count The Kicks there is a wealth of information on their website and their Facebook pages. To donate items please contact Corinne ctkrecyclingmerton@gmail.com
I hope to see you at the Gas and Electricity day. Thanks for all you do to make Mitcham and Morden such a strong community – and remember if there’s anything you want included in next month’s email please get in touch – you can email me at siobhain@mmlp.org.uk.
My best wishes,