Merton Council Plans Permanent Events Licence for Morden Park – What It Means for You
Click image above to watch ITV London News coverage of Merton Council controversial application for Morden Park event licensing.
Latest Update as of 7 April 2025
Licensing Hearing Meeting Date Has Been Announced
Merton Council Licensing Sub-Committee will hold a virtual Licensing Hearing Meeting on 22 April 2025 at 10.30 am. This is a virtual meeting and therefore not held in a physical location.
Attendance by the public is encouraged and welcomed. For more information about the agenda and the licensing decision making process contact democratic.services@merton.gov.uk or telephone 020 8545 3357. For further details see letter here
Notes from Merton Council Questions & Answers Meeting for Morden residents on 3 April 2025, taken by a Morden resident, can be found here.
Update: Important Guidance for Your Morden Park Representation
Thank you to everyone who has submitted a representation opposing Merton Council’s proposal for a permanent premises licence for Morden Park.
We’ve been informed by the Licensing Team that representations must focus specifically on the four legal objectives set out under the Licensing Act 2003. Unfortunately, general concerns about the environment, biodiversity, traffic and parking—while valid—will not be considered under this process.
What You Should Know:
If you submitted a representation focusing on environmental impact or parking, you are encouraged to review and revise your submission. Your revised objection must relate to at least one of the four licensing objectives:
1. The prevention of crime and disorder
2. Public safety – e.g. concerns about crowd control, access for emergency services
3. The prevention of public nuisance – e.g. noise, anti-social behaviour, littering, traffic congestion
4. The protection of children from harm – e.g. alcohol availability, inappropriate behaviour, safety of young park users
If you believe the proposed licence could negatively impact any of these areas, you are entitled and encouraged to submit additional information or update your original representation.
Example of Additions You Might Wish to Consider:
• Potential for increased crime or anti-social behaviour during/after large events
• Risk to public safety due to overcrowding or limited access for emergency services
• Likelihood of public nuisance such as noise, litter, and disruption to local residents
• Harm to children through exposure to alcohol-related activities or noise
How to Update Your Representation:
• Email: licensing@merton.gov.uk
• Quote reference: WK/202484136
• Include: your full name and address
Together, we can make sure our voices are heard—but we must speak the legal language that the Licensing Committee can consider.
Update from 30 March 2025
Merton Council has applied for a permanent premises licence for Morden Park, which would allow large-scale commercial events—including alcohol sales, live music, film screenings, and late-night activities—without needing to consult residents about each event.
If granted, this licence would give the council total discretion over what events take place in Morden Park, without requiring approval from or consultation with local people. The community would no longer have the opportunity to object to events that may cause disruption, noise, or damage to our much-loved green space.
Licensing Hearing Virtual Meeting has been set for 22 April 2025 at 10.30 am.
>>>Why Does This Matter?<<<<
1. No More Public Consultation
Currently, residents can raise concerns about large-scale events planned for Morden Park. This new licence would take away that right—allowing the council to approve events without local input, as long as they fall within the broad terms of the licence.
2. Risk of Morden Park Becoming a Commercial Events Venue
Morden Park is a valued community space, offering a peaceful escape for families, dog walkers, nature lovers, and those seeking fresh air and exercise. A permanent premises licence would allow:
• Alcohol sales and late events, increasing risk of noise pollution and anti-social behaviour.
• More frequent large-scale events, potentially limiting public access to the park.
• Environmental harm to wildlife and the 1,500+ tree saplings planted by local volunteers over the past five years.
3. Merton: The “Borough of Booze”?
Merton’s increasing focus on alcohol licensing has already raised concerns. As reported by the Wimbledon Guardian, the borough is being labelled the “Borough of Booze” due to its approach to licensing policies. Read the Wimbledon Guardian article here (continued below).
What Can You Do?
1. Read More About the Licence Application
• The full details of the licence application are available in the Public Register (Pages 14-19): Read here.
• Merton Council has also published additional information about the application: Read here.
2. Make Your Voice Heard – Submit a Representation by 4th April
If you are concerned about this application, you can formally object by submitting a representation before Friday, 4th April 2025. Quote reference: WK/202484136
Template letter available at bit.ly/protect-morden-park-template Note: Representations must be signed and include your full name and contact address.
Email: licensing@merton.gov.uk
Post: Licensing, London Borough of Merton, Merton Civic Centre, London Road. Morden, SM4 5DX
3. Sign Our Petition
We are calling on Merton Council to reject this permanent premises licence and instead:
✅ Retain public consultation rights for all major events.
✅ Limit the number and scale of commercial events in Morden Park.
✅ Implement strict safeguards to protect the environment and local community.
SIGN THE PETITION NOW! Follow this link https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/protect-morden-park-stop-the-permanent-premises-licence
Morden Park is a space for everyone—not just an events venue for commercial gain. Let’s protect our green space and ensure residents have a voice in its future.
References:
1. Read More About the Licence Application
The full details of the licence application are available in the Public Register (Pages 14-19): Read here.
Merton Council has also published additional information about the application: Read here.
2. The importance of Morden Park woodlands and wildlife
Morden Park, one of London Borough of Merton's flagship parks, is part of Capital Woodlands project, aiming to raise public appreciation of woodlands by increasing access to sites and creating new wildlife habitats. Read more about Morden Park woodland and wildlife importance here, here and here.
Eight neighbourhoods in Merton are deprived of green spaces and Morden central has the second worst Green Space Rating in England. Source: Friends of the Earth, Access to Green space in England, public sector information licensed under Open Government Licence 3.0.
Merton Friends of the Earth actively campaigns to double tree cover in Merton and have planted over 1,600 trees in the past four years in Morden Park. Learn more here.
3. Previous Morden Park events' reports: violence and anti-social behaviour
Merton: The “Borough of Booze”?: Merton’s increasing focus on alcohol licensing has already raised concerns. As reported by the Wimbledon Guardian, the borough is being labelled the “Borough of Booze” due to its approach to licensing policies: Read the Wimbledon Guardian article here.
Stabbings during techno festival in Morden Park: Four men were stabbed in Morden Park where Eastern Electrics festival was taking place. The techno music festival was granted a licence by the council in February 2019 despite huge opposition from neighbours of the park. Read the My London News article here