Residents of Wimbledon have branded the town centre's pavements "filthy" and "a disgrace" as a prolonged dry spell leaves stains and grime visible, with many calling on Merton Council to take more action. The council, however, maintains it has no statutory duty to pressure wash pavements but insists street cleanliness remains a priority.
Residents express outrage over stained pavements
Local resident Tom Kelleher said: "They are a disgrace and not what is expected in Wimbledon or any self-respecting village, town, or city in the UK. Any visitors to the area must think the council and residents of Wimbledon are happy to live in these conditions, which will leave a lasting negative impression."
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) visited Wimbledon town centre to assess the condition of the pavements first-hand. Black stains were spotted outside Wimbledon train station, and a clear divide was visible outside Wimbledon Quarter, where shopping centre staff had recently jet washed their area, while the adjoining council-owned pavement was blackened with stains.
Estate agent warns of impact on house prices
An agent from Hawes & Co estate agency, which overlooks the busy area outside the New Wimbledon Theatre, expressed concerns. "I came back from Spain last week and it made me realise how dirty the place is. It does look messy and scruffy," he said. The agent added that the uncleanliness could impact house prices in Wimbledon, noting, "It is supposed to be an affluent area."
Mitcham resident Alan Hutchings, visiting Wimbledon for a shopping trip, told the LDRS that "the council should be doing more." He added: "This is supposed to be the richer end of the borough, where they spend all of the money."
Council response and cleaning programme
Merton Council confirmed it does not have a statutory duty to pressure wash pavements throughout the year. However, it operates a jet washing programme across the borough's town centres, particularly in high-footfall areas. A council spokesperson said: "The Council has a borough-wide jet washing programme in place that operates across key, prominent areas within its five town centres: Mitcham, Morden, Wimbledon, Wimbledon Village and Colliers Wood."
The council added that Wimbledon receives daily street cleaning, with pressure washing taking place once or twice a year as part of a rotating schedule. Street cleaning has increased since the service was brought back in-house, with all streets receiving a weekly cleaning visit.
Residents point to lack of rain and litter issues
Some residents felt the lack of rain contributed to the build-up of stains. One Wimbledon resident told the LDRS: "I think a lack of rain is the issue, there is nothing to clean it down." However, the council said rain does not remove existing stains but can make recent spillages less visible. The Thames Water hosepipe ban has not affected its street cleaning programme.
Morden residents Stephen and Judith Line also noted the dirty streets, highlighting the build-up of chewing gum on pavements. "Many things have been tried, but people still chuck things on the floor," said Judith. Stephen pointed to piles of bin bags accumulating on pavements outside eateries due to a lack of bins.
Lib Dem opposition calls for action
Merton's Lib Dem opposition has written an open letter to the Labour-led council calling on it to "keep our streets clean." The letter urges the council to publish a plan for ongoing pavement maintenance in high-footfall areas, provide details of enforcement action against commercial waste practices that stain pavements, work with partners, and give regular updates on cleaning schedules and methods.
Lib Dem Leader of the Opposition Cllr Anthony Fairclough said: "Merton Labour talks a lot about 'Civic pride,' but Civic Pride means more than managing down to the minimum statutory grade for litter and detritus. It means a visible, reliable standard for the public realm in our busy town centres. We recognise that not all town centre pavements are public highway, and the constraints of cost, water use, run-off, disruption and noise. Those constraints do not, however, absolve the Council of responsibility for keeping our streets clean, nor do they justify the absence of a clear strategy."
Council defends efforts amidst criticism
A source within Merton Labour criticised the Lib Dem opposition for not supporting Labour's recent plan for targeted funding to deliver a deep-clean programme, including regular jet washing in town centres and other high-footfall areas. The council also noted that major sporting events, including the World Cup, had placed additional strain on the public realm due to increased footfall.
