Lib Dems launch plans for a Safer and Cleaner Borough

Merton Liberal Democrats launch ‘Safer, Cleaner Borough’ plan to restore pride in local communities. Under Labour, both Merton’s police front counters have been closed to the public. Residents report missed bin collections and dirty streets.

Merton Liberal Democrats have today unveiled their ‘Safer, Cleaner Borough’ plan, setting out how they would tackle rising concerns about crime, street cleanliness, and public confidence in local services.

This comes amid growing frustration from residents about the state of the borough. The Liberal Democrats say Merton is being let down by a failure to focus on the basics.

The loss of publicly accessible front desks at Mitcham and Wimbledon police stations leaves residents with no local place to report crime, undermining trust in policing and community safety. The Liberal Democrats also cite residents’ growing dissatisfaction with street cleanliness, with some residents reporting that their streets haven’t been swept for months.

In response, the party has unveiled a ‘Safer, Cleaner Borough’ plan, focused on restoring visible local services. Key proposals include creating new Community Safety Hubs - local bases for police officers - in town centres, and expanding neighbourhood warden roles. The plan promises a new ‘Clean Sweep’ service with published sweeping schedules and reliability guarantees, alongside introducing ‘Merton Mega Skips’. 

Additional steps include measures to make residential roads safer by tackling speeding HGVs and reducing ‘rat-runs’, and introducing designated parking bays for food delivery bikes in town centres. 

This plan forms part of the Liberal Democrats’ “Six to Fix” priorities for the 2026 local elections.

Cllr Victoria Wilson, Liberal Democrat Policing and Partnerships lead said:

“Residents tell us they feel let down, whether it’s the difficulty of accessing local policing, missed bin collections, or streets that simply aren’t being cleaned.

“That’s not good enough. People deserve to feel safe in their neighbourhoods and proud of where they live.

“Our Safer, Cleaner Borough plan is about getting the basics right. It means visible policing rooted in our communities, cleaner streets people can rely on, and a fairer, common-sense approach to enforcement.

“For those who choose to live and work here, we want Merton to be a borough that is safe, welcoming and well cared for, and where residents can see their council tax delivering real, tangible improvements.”