By Clare Delmar, MBCG Core Group.
Four months of lockdown and the continued presence of Covid19 has made all of us acutely aware of where and how we live, and for many, it’s changed our expectations of urban living. We have a unique opportunity as we emerge into our new normal to voice these expectations within our community, and to incorporate them into the renewed consultation process on the Mortlake Brewery development that the Mayor of London will be launching later this summer.
Lockdown imposed restrictions that impacted our day-to-day life in a good, and possibly lasting way for some, and in a not-so-good way for others. Working from home , or what is now known as wfh, has become a game changer for those with service based jobs that can be performed individually or collaboratively through digital services like Zoom and Teams. Many of these workers will continue to wfh as lockdown eases.
Home schooling imposed by the closure of schools has been another game changer for families. The experience has varied considerably, with schools offering varying levels of remote learning and support, and pupils engaging with varying levels of energy and enthusiasm. For many the best homeschool activities were not provided by school at all, but by the BBC (thank you Joe Wickes and BBC Bitesize) and other media providers. It goes without saying that without reliable and powerful Internet services, our work lives, school lives, and social lives would have been seriously compromised during lockdown.
Social distancing has imposed new behaviours both indoors and out. This has proved particularly challenging in higher density areas, both residential and commercial. Most of us have adapted remarkably well to this new normal, which essentially involves queuing and waiting as space is rationed, and many of us would prefer to avoid crowded places going forward.
Wfh and transport restrictions have made all of us local in our shopping and consumption of essential services. Mortlake has delivered well in providing us locals with our food, medicines and GP services, all adapting to a combination of online and offline provision.
Other changes have been more indirect and in almost all cases, extremely welcome: the air has been cleaner; the days and nights have been quieter; fewer cars on the roads have inspired more walkers and cyclists. The river towpath and local parks have been peaceful escapes. Communities and neighbourhoods have grown stronger as neighbours support each other, joining together for weekly NHS claps and sharing tips pn everything from where to get toilet roll to the best Thai takeaway on Nextdoor.
The New Normal will likely be a combination of wfh and commuting, online and in-school education, online and in-store shopping, digital GP consultations followed by in-hospital specialist treatment. Questions remain about how we will get around, as cars have crept back onto the roads in force and public transport is still regarded with suspicion. Few of us want to give up the bigger amenities like good air quality and supportive, cohesive neighbourhoods. So how can we use these experiences to shape the future of Mortlake?
The forthcoming consultation on the Brewery redevelopment form the Mayor’s Office gives us all a chance to voice our expectations of life in Mortlake post-Covid. We can start here, by submitting our views to this website .
Let’s use the challenges and opportunities lived over the last few months into a community-led campaign for a better Mortlake – one that sets the standard for the New Normal.
Clare Delmar