We joined our Ranger, Tom on one of his regular patrols of Wimbledon Town Centre. Tom’s patrols highlight a range of issues around town and also provide an important way for us to meet the 450+ businesses. He made over 3,000 visits to support businesses last year! Here Tom discusses some of the key issues in Wimbledon Town Centre, how businesses can report issues, and various strategies Love Wimbledon is using to keep the town centre clean.
What are some of the issues affecting Wimbledon Town Centre?
We are seeing an increase in graffiti – it’s constant. And the perpetrators are using harsher and more difficult to remove chemicals to tag. Love Wimbledon invests in monthly graffiti removal from private property and we log graffiti in public places for Merton Council, TfL and BT to remove. It all helps to keep the town clean. I do regular patrols around town and sometimes we also catch the perpetrators through CCTV as well. We have had success recently with several arrests.
Alongside graffiti, other issues include fly tipping, fly posting, blocked drains and overflowing litter bins. Reporting is key. I liaise with several service providers through their websites and email, but you have to be on it and check that the work has actually been completed. If it hasn’t, I chase! Each year I work with partners to resolve about 2,500 issues. I also recommend that businesses themselves report anything they can as well. The more reporting, the more fixing!
Have you noticed any issues increasing?
There do seem to be more broken pavement slabs around, and unfortunately more dogs are fouling the pavements. We are super dog-friendly in Wimbledon, but we just ask that visitors bring out a poo bag and bin it.
Where are the grot spots?
There is an alleyway behind some shops and flats that constantly has issues, including fly tipping. We also find chewing gum issues in some of the busy parts of town, especially near bus stops. So we work closely with businesses and residents to try and keep these areas clean.
Who is responsible for cleaning the town centre?
Merton Council looks after everyday sweeping and clearing. We let them know if we see particular litter or fouling issues so that those can be prioritised. The Council will also remove offensive graffiti in public areas within 24 hours.
Love Wimbledon invest in monthly graffiti removal on private buildings and three deep pavement cleans in the summer months around the Tennis Championships. This is delivered through Community Clean Infrastructure Services (CCIS), a company which completes work in the early hours of the morning so as not to impact businesses or visitors. Love Wimbledon funds fund over 1,200sqm of deep cleaning each year. I also take down a lot of fly posting on lampposts and shop windows.
What’s the strangest thing you’ve found lying around town?
I recently found a mannequin – no idea where it came from but we had it removed within 24 hours of course. Pushchairs are a regular occurrence, and we get a lot of cardboard and household waste dumped.
What’s the best part about your job?
I love the problem solving. Honestly, there’s nothing better than a thank-you from one of our businesses for getting an issue resolved.
Final thoughts?
We have very strong resident and business engagement. People care so much about Wimbledon, so I would just ask everyone to take pride in their properties, to make Wimbledon a truly good experience.
“People want a clean and tidy town centre, so keeping the outside of your properties clean and welcoming, that’s worth an awful lot!”
How to report issues in the town centre
Fix My Street – fly tipping, bus stop vandalism, blocked drains, missing/damaged trees and street light issues
Thames Water – leaks
UKPN – power cuts
Merton Council – buskers
Street Link – homelessness
or email info@lovewimbledon.org
