The South Wimbledon local who wrote the residents' motion amended by Merton Council at the Full Council meeting has expressed shock at the incident.

See related: 'It's not your motion': Merton Council's amendment to residents' motion results in mass abstention from Conservatives

Andrew Boyce, who worded the motion at a Wimbledon Community Forum meeting, said he was "shocked" when he realised it had been altered and described the decision as "mean spirited, arrogant and undemocratic".

The original motion:

This Council agrees to work proactively and in a meaningful way with residents in South Wimbledon to develop it into a vibrant and thriving community, that is culturally and economically progressive, and which respects its rich heritage.

The amended version:

The Council notes the work undertaken by the council to date, including renewing the entire length of Merton High Street, and agrees to continue work proactively and in a meaningful way with residents in South Wimbledon to develop it into a vibrant and thriving community, that is culturally and economically progressive, and which respects its rich heritage, and as part of this welcomes the work that is already underway to develop a South Wimbledon Enhancement Plan as a result of a partnership approach between the council and local residents.

He said: "It was worded in a way as to not commit the council to anything other than working with us.

"It wasn’t really their place to amend it and it was really unnecessary. It undermines the work we’ve done together."

Mr Boyce, along with other residents, met in June last year to get South Wimbledon on the WCF agenda. 

Local councillors have been working with residents at the quarterly meetings to find solutions to problems in the area. The chair of the meetings, Councillor James Holmes, advised attendees they could put forward a motion to the council.

After Mr Boyce wrote the motion, all residents at the meeting- around 50 people- were in "unanimous agreement".

The council was accused by Conservatives, 21 of whom refused to vote on the motion, of disregarding the will of residents and giving the impression their motion was not "good enough".

Mr Boyce, who has also been leading the work to develop the enhancement plan mentioned in the motion, said: "Part of reason we have come together is because we are frustrated with some of their performance to date so it was silly of them to do it just blow their own trumpet."

However, he added: "We will persevere. It won’t undermine us but it has left somewhat of a sour note."

Reacting to the amendment, Cllr Holmes said he was "very disappointed".

He said: "Residents and councillors on both side of the chamber worked very hard on this.

"Then Labour decided the residents' motion wasn’t good enough."

He urged residents to try again adding: "I hope Labour don’t frustrate them this time."

Cllr Mark Allison, Deputy Leader of the Council, said: "Residents will be very disappointed that the Conservatives refused to vote to welcome the work of the South Wimbledon enhancement plan.

"This is a great initiative, and it's disappointing that petty politics from the Tories nearly undermined the work a lot of residents have put into it."