Climate Emergency Consultation

On 10 July 2019, Merton Council declared a Climate Emergency and set the ambitious carbon reduction target to make the borough of Merton carbon neutral by 2050. To lead the way, the Council is also working towards making its own buildings and services carbon neutral by 2030.

Merton Council is currently developing a Climate Action Plan, which will set out how these targets can be achieved, to take to Cabinet and full Council in early 2020. The Council would like businesses and organisations to be a part of this important process by completing their Climate Change Consultation. Closes Monday 9 December.

Christmas Markets on The Piazza

12 days of Christmas Markets on The Piazza

Wrap up warm and enjoy 12 Days of Love Wimbledon’s Christmas Markets, across five weekends throughout the festive season!

Open 11am to 6pm every Saturday and Sunday from 23 November until Sunday 22 December, our Christmas Market on The Piazza is the perfect place to pick up unique gifts. With up to 50 stalls at each market and different traders each weekend, we’ll have a huge variety of stalls featuring original art, gorgeous clothing and accessories, and unique homeware – much of which is homemade by local artists. And you can tuck in to traditional treats such as Christmas cake, mince pies, mulled wine and festive bakes.

 

Christmas Markets on The Piazza dates:

Saturday 23 & Sunday 24 November

Saturday 30 November & Sunday 1 December – also Winter Wonderland

Saturday 7 & Sunday 8 December

Friday 13 opening till 7pm , Saturday 14 & Sunday 15 December

Friday 20 opening till 7pm, Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 December

 

New £20 note launches 20 February 2020

Bank of England announces new £20 polymer note

A new, polymer £20 note, featuring the artist JMW Turner, will be issued on 20 February 2020. It contains sophisticated security features making it the most secure Bank of England banknote yet. For the first time, the note incorporates two windows and a two-colour foil, making it very difficult to counterfeit and, like the polymer £10, will contain a tactile feature to help vision impaired people identify the denomination.

In preparation for the new £20 note, cash-handling businesses should:

  • speak to suppliers to check banknote machines are updated
    eg: self-service checkouts, point-of-sale banknote authenticators, back office banknote authenticators/note counters
  • ensure staff who handle cash are aware and know what to expect on 20 February 2020
  • access free training and educational materials via Bank of England

The polymer £20 note will join the Churchill £5 and the Austen £10. A new £50 note, featuring Alan Turing, will follow in 2021. The paper £20 can be used until it is withdrawn from circulation. The Bank of England will announce the withdrawal date after the new polymer £20 note has been issued, with six months’ notice.

Find out more at Bank of England.

How You Can Help to Support Local Charities and Change Lives

Merton Giving, a charitable partnership between Merton Chamber of Commerce and Merton Voluntary Services Council and supported by Merton Council, is celebrating its first birthday. Since its launch, the business community has responded incredibly to help local causes with cash donations to the Merton Giving Fund and/or non-monetary in-kind support totaling in excess of £60,000.  To continue its work, Merton Giving Week is back for 2019.  In its second year the week marks a dedicated focus on fundraising to help grow the Merton Giving Fund to provide financial support to charities working locally.

 

“CSR is increasingly important for businesses and we like to encourage businesses in Wimbledon to give to their local community, encouraging their staff to develop a meaningful relationship with local charities. Merton Giving provides a structure for this and Love Wimbledon is proud to support this initiative”.

– Helen Clark Bell, CEO, Love Wimbledon 

 

Businesses, community groups and residents across the borough are invited to join in and do whatever takes their fancy during Merton Giving Week, 2nd to 8th December 2019, to raise money to help grow the Merton Giving Fund.

 

For more information about how you can take part visit Merton Chamber of Commerce.

 

ALL Wimbledon’s bars, pubs and clubs offer FREE water refills

Over 20 venues now offer FREE water refills in Wimbledon Town Centre.

All of Wimbledon’s pubs, clubs and bars and many of our restaurants and cafes are now listed on the Refill app, with more going live soon.

Get your business listed on the Refill app!

If you’re a business with a publicly accessible tap, then all you need to do is provide Refill with a few details to create your FREE profile on the map. Once your station is live you’ll be ready to welcome thirsty refillers and benefit from increased exposure and footfall as a result.

Read more about Love Wimbledon’s work on sustainability in our Town Centre, and see which businesses are currently listed.