I write in regards to the article on West Barnes Library's proposed redevelopment (West Barnes Library to be revamped by housing developers in Merton Council money-saving initiative, December 16), which I would like to state opposition against.
Motspur Park was once described by a local resident in a newspaper as a "quiet, friendly area" with a "rural way of life". There's nothing glamorous or particularly exciting about the village: it's very laid-back, sleepy, and not well-known even to people who live within a few miles of it. Without a shadow of a doubt, the writer of that article hit the nail on the head: Motsie is definitely more like a rural village than your average commuter suburb.
I am a resident who has lived in Motspur Park all their life. I am happy to live in a small community filled with neighbours who are proud of their town and who are goodwilling; I am proud to live in an area that is truly unique to this side of the Thames: a quiet bundle of tree-lined streets encompassing a petit high-street, served by excellent transport connections, fantastic nearby schools and a multitude of well-kept parks and green areas.
The new proposals threaten Motspur Park and its "rural way of life". No building in the vicinity of the high street is as high as even four storeys, never mind five, so the new edifice would tower above the village and it would truly ruin it. The roads can't even take the capacity, and if we're going to be having Crossrail 2 coming in within the next 20 years, our streets are going to get quite busy as it is, without our own little skyscraper!
When we said we'd like an improved library service, we didn't say we wanted an affordable housing estate with it. We didn't ask for a community hall either: we have a church two roads down that suits us just fine. I feel as if the council is sacrificing the identity of our village for the sake of some economic saving, and I'm worried that we residents will feel the impact of it.
See, this is my concern: can our tiny town really take the weight of a five-storey building and still retain the beauty of its unique way of life? And can we still be proud of where we live, despite a monstrous eyesore situated right in front of the station - the very foundation and bedrock of our community?
Name withheld
via email
- Send your letters to: letters@wimbledonguardian.co.uk
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