Save Wimbledon Park

“SAVE WIMBLEDON PARK
 
The All England Lawn Tennis Club have applied to develop the Heritage Landscape of the Grade II* registered Wimbledon Park. Although the application received approval by Merton's planning committee on 26th October 2023, this was just the first stage in the process. Wandsworth Council's planning committee met on 21st November and voted unanimously to refuse the application. It now goes to the GLA for a Mayoral decision; the Secretary of State can also call it in. 
 
Each decision making body has to review the All England's proposals. On Capability Brown’s Grade II* historic and highly protected Metropolitan Open Land they plan an 8,000-seat stadium, 38 courts, 10 other buildings and 9kms of roads and paths. They propose a new AELTC private park to which the public may be admitted but which would contain a 30,000sqft maintenance building.
 
This “industrial tennis complex” would break the 1993 covenants demanded by Merton to protect the golf course and agreed by AELTC on their purchase. On 14 July 1993 Merton promised that the golf course would be kept as open space: statement by Tony Colman, leader of Merton Council: “… when we decided to sell this land, we did so ensuring it would be kept as open space and we did so determined that the next owner and any future owner would be denied forever the opportunity to use this space for any development”.
 
Help protect the Environment
 
There would be unacceptable Environmental Impact. The golf course will be excavated, infilled, and levelled over 7 years, threatening protected priority habitats. Claims for biodiversity net gains have been challenged in expert analysis. 300 mature trees will be felled. An estimated 500+ younger trees will be uprooted. Established trees are vastly superior to new saplings for carbon storage, heritage and biodiversity. You cannot replace a 150-year-old tree without waiting 150 years.
 
Hold Merton and the AELTC to their promises
 
This is important open space heavily protected in planning policy and by the 1993 covenants. Once built upon it could become completely developed. The 28m high and 104m wide Stadium will dominate the site, contrary to the 1993 covenants. When they bought in 1993, AELTC promised to keep it for leisure, recreation, and open space with only ancillary buildings. The then AELTC chairman said: “We completely understand and support everyone’s determination to keep the land open and we purchased [it] on that basis.
 
Save Wimbledon Park for future generations
 
The new AELTC park will still belong to the AELTC. Public access to it and the walk around the lake is “permissive”; it may be withdrawn as their commercial priorities change. The AELTC say their Masterplan for the future of their estate is “an evolving vision.
 
A walking route around the lake is welcome and would fulfil a 1993 obligation. The boardwalk over the lake is unacceptable on visual, ecological, and historical grounds.
 With tournament use limited to 3 weeks, the density of courts and infrastructure across the site is excessive. Community access to play tennis will be negligible. Championship parking and the Queue will still be on public park land.
 
Church Road, a main thoroughfare for locals and bus route to St George’s Hospital will be closed during the Championships, even to pedestrians and cyclists.
 We are not anti-tennis, nor are we anti-AELTC and the Championships. The “Wimbledon Fortnight” is known around the world and enjoyed by thousands of visitors and residents alike, but development on this scale is unjustified. The AELTC must think again. 
 
We call upon the planning authorities to reject this application, and upon Merton to uphold the 1993 covenants they imposed on the AELTC.
 Help protect the Environment.
 
Hold Merton and the AELTC to their promises. Save Wimbledon Park for future generations.”