Councillor David Dean claims bizarrely that Labour have closed every single cricket pitch and football ground in Mitcham. We have closed none. 

Obviously he has not noticed Mitcham Cricket Green, maintained by the council for the country’s oldest cricket club.  Nor has he bothered to check out the true state of football provision: football returned to Three Kings’ Piece with two pitches for Mitcham Park FC in the last two years; Mitcham Little League play on the old News of the World Athletics ground; Mitcham Imperials FC play at Lavender Park. 

We have also consulted on proposals to establish marked football pitches on Figges Marsh with new changing rooms nearby and a new multi-use sports area at the Canons. 

Cranmer Green stopped being used for football in 1988, under a Conservative administration, and has since been managed for its nature conservation value. We have also introduced outdoor table tennis tables, “green gyms”, a BMX track in Mitcham, two new beach volleyball courts at Wimbledon Park and a skateboard park  at Pollards Hill.

Coun Dean alleges tennis courts are being closed systematically, when in fact, none have been closed by this administration. 

I was responsible for the refurbishment of tennis courts at Tamworth recreation ground, which are well used as part of our Tennis for Free scheme along with courts across the borough.  We are now refurbishing 10 tennis courts at Wimbledon Park.

The only bowling green closed was in Dundonald recreation ground, where the members were too few to provide teams for a proper bowling programme and I took the view that land would be better used by the wider public. 

Finally, Coun Dean’s assertion we have put up fees above inflation and making it more difficult to book pitches is simply wrong. The increases are VAT-related and outside our power.  

Coun Andrew Judge
Cabinet member with responsibility for Merton’s green spaces