Save Wimbledon Park update
Save Wimbledon Park update
The long awaited decision over the planned expansion by the AELTC in Wimbledon Park is coming to a head, and anticipation from local residents is high.
On Friday morning several representatives from the group Save Wimbledon Park will go to City Hall to hear the planning hearing at 10am when it’s thought a decision on the planning proposals will be heard.
Merton Friends of the Earth will also be joining a Save Wimbledon Park demonstration in Central London. The group is encouraging those opposed to the project to protest “against this devastating plan, and to fight for our environment and protect Wimbledon Park for everyone.”
Local residents came out in force on Monday evening to hear the Save Wimbledon Park group’s thoughts and analysis of the GLA Planning Officers’ report which was published on Thursday 19 September.
The All England Club had gained an advantage last week in their hopes and plans to build 39 new tennis courts on Wimbledon Park. The GLA Planning Officers recommended that the Deputy Mayor should grant conditional planning at the hearing at City Hall on Friday 27 September.
Officers said that “there are no material considerations that are considered to justify the refusal of consent.”
This development has left many residents disappointed and angry and at Monday’s meeting they expressed their concern.
Merton Council had approved the plans but the proposal was referred to the GLA after Wandsworth Council rejected them.
One of the main issues being contested is the covenant that the AELTC signed in 1993 when it bought Wimbledon Park land, stating that it would only be used for recreational purposes or as an open space.
Jonathan Moorish from Save Wimbledon Park explains that until that covenant is lifted then there are major complications and legal issues surrounding the planning application.
“The thing is that until Merton release the covenant then it doesn’t matter what City Hall decides, it won’t override the legalities. This is gold-plated protected land and it has the highest form of protection there is,” he explains.
Also present at the Monday meeting was Paul Kohler, MP for Wimbledon:
“This report does not mean that all is lost. Even if the Deputy Mayor ignores our compelling arguments on Friday and decides in favour of the AELTC, we have a number of legal avenues down which we can go.”
A large turn out is expected at City Hall on Friday when a full planning hearing will take place.
Deputy Mayor of London Jules Pipe will be making the decision, because Sadiq Khan excused himself from the process, after having publicly expressed he was in favour of the expansion.
After the decision is made on Friday, the planning could then be escalated to the government.
“This could go on a long time,” says Jonathan. “We just don’t know which way this is going to go… but we are not giving up.”
Deborah Jevans, Chair of the All England Club, commented, “We are pleased that the GLA’s planning officers have recommended that our transformation of the former Wimbledon Park Golf Course should be approved by Deputy Mayor Jules Pipe.
“We believe that these plans will deliver one of the greatest sporting transformations for London since 2012.
“The land that we propose to enhance has been used as a private members’ golf course for well over 100 years and, as a core part of this project, we will create 27 acres of beautiful new parkland, free for the public to access and enjoy.
“We now look forward to the Greater London Authority’s decision at a public hearing on 27 September.”
Ahead of this year’s Championships, YouGov polling (conducted May 2024) showed that 59 per cent of those polled in the capital supported plans to treble the size of the Wimbledon site. Eight per cent opposed the project.
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