Protect Morden Park: Stop the Permanent Premises Licence!

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Protect Morden Park: Stop the Permanent Premises Licence!

Merton Council: Licensing

Merton Friend of The Earth

Help us defend local democracy and protect Morden Park from environmental harm.

Merton Council has applied for a permanent premises licence for Morden Park, which would allow year-round commercial events with alcohol sales, live music, film screenings, and late-night activities—without consulting local residents on a case-by-case basis.

Why is this a problem?

1. Loss of Public Consultation & Local Voice:

• This licence would remove the requirement to consult residents about individual events.

• The council would only inform us of events, rather than seeking our views or allowing objections.

• This undermines local democracy and gives the council unchecked control over how our public green space is used.

2. Risk of Public Nuisance & Environmental Damage:

• Morden Park is home to thousands of trees and diverse wildlife—frequent commercial events could cause noise pollution, littering, and habitat destruction.

• Increased footfall, alcohol sales, and late-night activities could lead to anti-social behaviour and public safety concerns in surrounding residential areas.

• The park is a vital community space for recreation, exercise, dog walking, and mental well-being—this licence risks turning it into an events venue rather than a public park.

We call on Merton Council to reject the permanent premises licence and instead:

Retain public consultation rights before approving major events.
Limit the number and scale of commercial events in the park.
Implement strict safeguards to protect residents and the environment.

>> Sign this petition today to protect Morden Park for future generations! <<

Merton Friends of the Earth will present this petition to Merton Council to demand they listen to local voices and preserve our community’s green space.

What else you can do to help: Submit a Representation by 4th April

If you are concerned about this application, you can formally object by submitting a representation email to licensing@merton.gov.uk before Friday, 4th April 2025. Quote reference: WK/202484136. IMPORTANT: Representations must be signed and include your full name and contact address.

References:

1. Read More About the Licence Application

The full details of the licence application are available in the Public Register (Pages 14-19): Read here.
Merton Council has also published additional information about the application: Read here.

2. The importance of Morden Park woodlands and wildlife

Morden Park, one of London Borough of Merton's flagship parks, is part of Capital Woodlands project, aiming to raise public appreciation of woodlands by increasing access to sites and creating new wildlife habitats. Read more about Morden Park woodland and wildlife importance here, here and here.
Eight neighbourhoods in Merton are deprived of green spaces and Morden central has the second worst Green Space Rating in England. Source: Friends of the Earth, Access to Green space in England, public sector information licensed under Open Government Licence 3.0.
Merton Friends of the Earth actively campaigns to double tree cover in Merton and have planted over 1,600 trees in the past four years in Morden Park. Learn more here.

3. Previous Morden Park events' reports: violence and anti-social behaviour

Merton: The “Borough of Booze”?: Merton’s increasing focus on alcohol licensing has already raised concerns. As reported by the Wimbledon Guardian, the borough is being labelled the “Borough of Booze” due to its approach to licensing policies: Read the Wimbledon Guardian article here.
Stabbings during techno festival in Morden Park: Four men were stabbed in Morden Park where Eastern Electrics festival was taking place. The techno music festival was granted a licence by the council in February 2019 despite huge opposition from neighbours of the park. Read the My London News article here

Petition by

merton Friends of the Earth

Morden, United Kingdom

Sponsored by

Merton Friends of the Earth

To: Merton Council: Licensing
From: [Your Name]

To: Licensing Team, London Borough of Merton

Subject: Objection to Permanent Premises Licence for Morden Park (Ref: WK/202484136)

Dear Licensing Team,

We, the undersigned, strongly oppose Merton Council’s application for a permanent premises licence for Morden Park. This licence would allow large-scale commercial events, alcohol sales, and late-night activities without public consultation, limiting residents’ ability to object to disruptive events.

Morden Park is a vital green space for the local community, providing a place for recreation, nature, and mental well-being. Increased commercialisation threatens wildlife, public access, and residents’ quality of life, with risks including noise, litter, and anti-social behaviour.

We urge Merton Council to:

• Reject the permanent premises licence to protect local democracy and green spaces.

• Retain public consultation rights before approving major events.

• Limit the number and scale of commercial events to safeguard the park’s environment.

Morden Park should remain a community space, not an events venue for commercial gain.

Please find attached our petition, signed by concerned residents who value and wish to protect Morden Park.

Yours sincerely,

Merton Friends of the Earth

Email: mertonfoe@gmail.com - Website: mertonfoe.org