With just over a week to go until the local elections, residents of Mitcham have voiced concerns that the condition of the town centre is a key issue influencing their vote. Voters feel Mitcham is falling behind neighbouring areas like Streatham, Tooting and Wimbledon as a shopping and leisure destination.
Declining Town Centre
“It feels like it is declining and the variety of shops is decreasing,” said Mitcham resident Ben Abensur. “We are losing our supermarkets and we’ve lost our banks.” Frustrated by the lack of improvement, Abensur launched a ‘Revive Mitcham Eastfields’ petition with five key demands for Merton Council, backed by nearly 1,600 signatures. A central priority is strengthening and revitalising the town centre.
Concerns have been accelerated by Clarion Housing’s Majestic Way redevelopment, which will replace shops like Morrisons, Superdrug and banks with 249 homes. Residents want guarantees that infrastructure will keep up with the influx of new residents. “There is a growing sense that the infrastructure will not be keeping up with the people who will be moving in,” Abensur said.
Lifelong resident Barry Hayward echoed these views: “If they are going to build all of that, then they need to bring back a bank, or some facilities at least. People just walk through Mitcham at the moment.” A newer resident, who wished to remain anonymous, added: “It would be great if people didn’t have to leave Mitcham to have a nice brunch or go out in the evening for a drink. All of those things Wimbledon, Tooting and Streatham have, so why doesn’t Mitcham?” She noted the town’s good location and green spaces but said “there is nothing to do.”
Positive Examples and Challenges
Residents pointed to local café Forty Coffee as a business bringing a different feel, but said Mitcham must overcome a negative reputation to become a destination. “It has a lot of stereotypes attached to it,” the Eastfields resident added.
Train Services and Safety
The town has tram connections, bus routes and two train stations serving Southern and Thameslink. However, petitioners demand improvements at Mitcham Eastfields station, especially scheduling and barrier operation. Abensur said Labour MP Siobhain McDonagh has shown interest, and Network Rail is assessing 15-minute train frequency and capacity.
Public safety and green spaces are also key concerns. Mohammed Sadiq, a market regular, said the town centre suffers from antisocial behaviour, especially around Clocktower Square, with “day drinkers sitting around shouting all day” and rare police patrols. Abensur highlighted poor lighting on Mitcham Common, which limits nighttime use compared to Tooting. The Eastfields resident noted Figge’s Marsh shows a clear difference in care where it borders Tooting.
Political Response
While the petition aims to guide council investment, Abensur said candidates have not fully shared residents’ concerns. “I am yet to see anything concrete in their support for considered growth, rather than just growth of the town,” he said. “The petition is completely non-political, but we are acting as a voice for the residents of Mitcham. We just want clarity from the council on what can and can’t be done.”
