“T
Referring to a tennis match, Christopher Coombe from Save Wimbledon Park compares the current situation between local residents and the major tennis tournament to being tied at one set each with a long journey ahead. He describes it as a five-set match without a tie-break.
The following morning, Coombe addressed the rejection of the All England Club’s proposal for the construction of 39 grass courts and an 8,000-seat stadium on the historic Wimbledon golf club site by a unanimous vote from Wandsworth council. However, Merton council, who also has a say in the matter, previously approved the same plans with a 6-4 vote. This has resulted in a deadlock and a feeling of conflict arising between the residents of Wimbledon and Southfields.
There is not much time until the next update. The London mayor’s office announced on Wednesday that they will make a decision within the next two weeks on whether to completely reject the plans or request a review. The responsibility for this decision now falls on the deputy mayor for planning, Jules Pipe, as the mayor, Sadiq Khan, has removed himself due to his prior endorsement of the expansion.
It is anticipated that Pipe will assess the project, causing a delay of at least six months. After that, the decision may be passed on to Michael Gove, the secretary of state for levelling up, and potentially end up in court for review. In simpler terms, it could resemble Bleak House’s never-ending Jarndyce and Jarndyce case rather than John Isner’s well-known 11-hour match against Nicolas Mahut.
The argument of the locals is that expanding the All England Club from 41 to 115 acres will result in significant harm to the environment and cause 10 years of disturbance in the surrounding community. They also believe it will lead to the creation of a large “tennis industrial complex,” which includes 9 kilometers of pathways, player facilities, and corporate hospitality that will remain unused for most of the year.
Susan Cusack, a member of Save Wimbledon Park, expresses concern for the potential negative impact on the environment, biodiversity, and air quality. This is due to the proposed development of 70 acres of open land, which is home to 2,000 trees and numerous species that are at risk of becoming extinct according to the amber and red lists. The construction process alone is estimated to require 40,400 vehicles, and the site will remain a construction zone for eight to 10 years.
Cusack also rejects the idea of nimbyism and emphasizes that the development in Wimbledon will have a larger impact. He points out that there are 50 similar sites in London that are at risk of losing their open land. If this specific case is approved, it could set a precedent for development in all of these areas. One of the things that make London special is its parks, and it would be tragic to lose our urban green spaces.
Unfortunately, a large portion of this proposal has been declined by the All England Club. They emphasize that their proposed changes, which involve extensive efforts to improve the environment, have received approval from the London Wildlife Trust and Natural England. They have also committed to planting 1,500 trees of varying ages and sizes that better suit the surrounding area, as well as investing £6 million towards addressing sediment buildup in the lake at Wimbledon Park and renovating the playground for children.
The article highlights additional advantages for the community, such as the opening of seven out of 39 courts to the general public following the tournament. Sally Bolton, the CEO, states that the Wimbledon Park development has many positive impacts on society, the economy, and the environment. These include transforming 23 acres of private land into a new public park, as well as creating numerous job opportunities and contributing tens of millions of pounds to the economy.
In short, the All England Club’s main reasoning is that they require an additional 8,000-seat show court and 38 other grass courts for qualifying matches and better practice facilities, in order to maintain Wimbledon’s status as the top tennis tournament in the world.
Ignore the advertisement for the newsletter.
after newsletter promotion
However, this claim is being contested by 16,000 individuals living in the area who have recently signed a petition in opposition to the plan. The two Members of Parliament representing the area, Fleur Anderson of the Labour Party and Stephen Hammond of the Conservative Party, also oppose the scheme.
As both parties anticipate the upcoming phase of the procedure, it appears unlikely that a middle ground will be reached. Instead, there is a sense of suspicion in the atmosphere, as nearby inhabitants accuse the All England Club of breaking their promise in 1993 to refrain from developing the land and their pledge in 2018 to collaborate with the local community. Wimbledon denies these allegations and highlights that 5,000 residents have participated in one of their consultation gatherings.
Jonathon Norrish, a fellow advocate, stated that the current approach being taken is akin to a game, with the belief that having a lot of money allows for complete control. He believes that the development is too extensive and suggests involving the community more in the decision-making process and starting anew.
No matter what comes next, it is evident that very few matches in the 146-year history of the All England Club have been as lengthy or contentious.
Source: theguardian.com
