The council says it is ‘determined to make sure we listen and act on what residents tell us’

Maxine Thetford (L), her dog, Rolo, and Janice Khellat (R) in Morden

People living in the part of London named the best place to retire in the city have said that it has ‘deteriorated’ and ‘drug addicts’ live in HMOs. However, residents added that some redeeming features mean properties can still be sold ‘after a couple of days’.

In January, The Telegraph listed Merton in South London as the second best place to retire in the UK. The borough includes Wimbledon in the west and Mitcham in the east.

MyLondon spoke to people in Morden, in the south of Merton. Jill, 86, was crossing the road in Crown Lane. She worked until she was 82 at a letting and estate agency. “I’d be back there tomorrow if they’d have me,” the pensioner said.

Jill, 86, says she’s been having trouble with ‘drug addicts’ in an HMO next door

She then described problems she claims to have had with an HMO next door. Jill said: “[Merton’s] a load of rubbish. There are more houses being transferred into HMOs. I live next door to one of them. It has drug addicts and all sorts there, and it’s nothing else but trouble.”

She added: “The one next door to me had a death in it because somebody overdosed. I get the brunt of it because I get my fence kicked in because they think he [someone associated with the HMO] lives at my house.”

‘I don’t think the council cares about what’s going on outside’

Jill then told MyLondon: “It was [a good area to live in], but all the shops have been shut down because their business rates have gone up. It was a lovely place. We’ve got lovely parks here.”

Christine Maynard, 74, who once worked in Coutts bank in the Strand in Central London, before moving to Kent, and then back to London, said: “I’ve lived here 40 years and it’s altered a lot, but not for the better. In fact, it’s getting worse round here. The dirt. We used to have the streets cleaned every day […] I don’t think [the council] care about what’s going on outside, they just care what’s going on inside.

Christine Maynard used to work at Coutts, a private bank in The Strand

“They’re going to work and then they’re oblivious to everything. There are no communications at times with things that are happening.” Ms Maynard is one of multiple people who told MyLondon that they did not like the idea of the new hotel being built

“Hopefully,” she said, “I might be dead before they build it. It’s going to cause chaos here. Can you imagine? It’s all a one way system now.”

Janice Khellat, 62, has lived in Morden for 23 years. The Oxfam shop worker said: “It’s just deteriorated. I’ve been here 25 years. All the promises, they’re going to revamp stations, everything is going to change. Nothing changes. I definitely wouldn’t retire here. There’s nothing here. It’s just restaurants. The amount of things they tell you they’re going to do, and nothing gets done.”

Houses sold ‘within a couple days because of the Tube station’

Ms Khellat added that houses in her road are sold ‘within a couple of days’, however, which she put down to the area being on the Northern line. Her friend also rents out her drive. “It’s only her living there now,” she said, “it’s always because they’re going to the station.”

Maxine Thetford, 67, who also works at Oxfam, is pessimistic about the country as a whole, as well as where she lives. She said: “I’m not sure anywhere is [a good place to retire] at the moment. You can’t get a doctors appointment.

Maxine Thetford (L) says she ‘can’t afford to retire’

“You can’t afford to put your heating on.” Consequently, she added, she cannot currently afford to retire.

A woman called Colleen, 64, who has lived in Morden since 1984, and did not wish to provide her second name, said: “It’s a really, really good place in terms of transport links. You’ve got the Underground not too far away, Overground trains. If you drive, the A3 and the A24.

“You can get into the centre of London as easily as you can get into the countryside. There’s a lot of green. There’s the National Trust [Morden Hall] park.” She added: “When you’re older, accessibility is quite an important thing, particularly for social things. If you’re in a couple, one of you is going to die.”

‘They’re not going to knock down the mosque any time soon’

Colleen also said: “It’s diverse, which, again, if you moved out [to the country], you wouldn’t get the same diversity. There are some people in Morden who don’t like that, but they’re not going to knock down the mosque any time soon. It’s beautiful.” She added that it was better than the ‘derelict’ building there before, which was occupied by ‘drug dealers’.

Locals say Morden has ‘deteriorated’

But she added: “There are bits […] that are just grim. They haven’t done enough to develop the high street, and I think that’s where we let ourselves down.”

Retired Tube driver Geoff, 73, who also wished to withhold his second name, said: “It’s peaceful. The best thing is you’ve got Morden Park, Cannon Hill – there’s lots of green spaces. Older people in the area, he added, ‘love having lovely walks’.

Geoff also highlighted how there are ‘plenty of buses’, the Tube and South Merton National Rail station. “I’ve got family brothers and all that,” he said, “I think it’s a wonderful place.”

Opposite the Tube station, a man, who walked away before he could provide his name, said Merton is ‘at the top’ when it comes to London boroughs. He told MyLondon that he had ‘had dealings with the councillors’, and they are ‘approachable and helpful people’.

The Leader of London Borough of Merton Council, Ross Garrod, said: “Merton is where I grew up and I love living here, and I’m so pleased to hear that more and more people are seeing Merton as a great place to live with lovely parks and a strong sense of community. I also appreciate the feedback on areas needing improvement and I’m determined to make sure we listen and act on what residents tell us.

“That’s why we’ve introduced landlord licensing, we’re bringing street cleaning back in-house, and are investing to breathe new life into our town centres. We’re also working with residents to ensure Morden’s future meets the community’s needs and keeps our area a place people are proud to call home.”