Wimbledon residents fear the expansion of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, given approval on Friday, sets an environmentally disastrous precedent.
The expansion was given approval by the deputy mayor of London Jules Pipe, despite residents claiming it would set a dangerous precedent with regards to restrictions to green spaces.
Wimbledon residents came out in force despite a downpour at City Hall in the morning to protest the expansion of the AELTC into Wimbledon Park Golf Club.
The AELTC plans to use the land to build 39 grass tennis courts to allow for on-site Wimbledon qualifying, an 8,000-seater stadium, and nine other buildings, taking up to 10 years to build.
Jo Tall, 62, who spent her career as a green lawyer, said: “It is unnecessary. Destroying heritage park space sets a really dangerous precedent for development on the green belt.”
Alice Roberts, Head of Campaigns for the charity Campaign to Protect Rural England, echoed the sentiment.
Roberts said: “If this goes forward, a precedent will be set for 50 Metropolitan Open Land sites at risk of development reducing recreational access to green spaces.”
MOL sites, in this case, refer to an open-air facility for sport and recreation, which the residents believe they will lose when the club expands into the golf club.
Roberts added: “It is often argued it was an exclusive members golf club, but there was provision for people to play.”
Susan Cusack, Save Wimbledon Park member, supported Roberts’ claims, saying any Merton resident could play at the golf course for a vastly reduced fee.
Under the plans for the expansion, a spokesperson for AELTC said seven of the 39 courts proposed will be accessible to the public outside of the tournament for recreational use, although they did not share how locals will access them yet.
Cusack, The Chair of the Belvedere Residents Association, shared her concerns of the loss of irreplaceable habitats, the 300 felled trees and the numerous uprooted ones, and the net loss of biodiversity.
She quoted Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990: “Expansion does not provide the specific set of circumstances to outweigh the harm caused.”
Putney, Roehampton and Southfields MP Fleur Anderson said: “It will be an environmental disaster. I hope they come back and talk to us as the community is not being listened to at all.
“It is a massive mistake. In an area of high deprivation they really value their green space.”
Deborah Jevans, Chair of AELTC said: “Our proposals will deliver 27 acres of newly accessible parkland.
“Every stage of this project will be delivered with meticulous attention to detail and the utmost respect for both the neighbours and the environment.”
They also plan to plant 1,500 trees to counteract those removed in the process.
The residents protesting on Friday remained sceptical about the accessibility of the proposed 27 acres of parkland as they feel the wording in the plans remains unclear.
A spokesperson for the AELTC said: “Access to the new public parkland is legally protected under the S.106 Agreement in perpetuity if planning permission is granted.”
Pipe quoted in his approval on Friday the plans presented economic benefits such as 40 year-round jobs and 256 Championship jobs, which Anderson feels should have been for those in Roehampton under her renewal programme.
