39 new trails on “protected” terrain

He London Town Hall gave the green light this Friday to the controversial project to expand the All England Clubwhich includes the construction of 39 new tennis courts, including one with a capacity of 8,000 spectators, in an area close to the traditional tennis tournament. Wimbledon. This decision generated divisions between the local community, environmentalists and club officials, in a debate combining sporting, economic and environmental interests.

The project will move the qualifying stages of the tournament to Wimbledon, instead of being played at Wimbledon. Roehamptonwhich is located several kilometers from the club. This would bring the tournament in line with the rest of the grand slamwhich organize the previous phases in the same main facilities. “We’re clearly very, very happy. It’s been a long road to get to this point,” he said. Deborah Jevanspresident of All England Club. According to Jevans, this expansion will prevent Wimbledon “from falling behind the others Grand Slam“.

One of the main attractions of the project is the construction of a third covered pitch, which would make it possible to maintain the match schedule even on rainy days. Furthermore, it is expected that with the expansion, the tournament could accommodate up to 50,000 additional spectators each day, which would further cement it as one of the busiest sporting events in the world.

However, not everyone welcomes this decision. The group Save Wimbledon Parkwho opposed the project, fears that the development will transform the area into a “huge tennis industrial complex”, endangering the ecological balance of the park. The protests focus on the environmental impact the works will cause, as well as the subsequent effects in terms of traffic, noise and loss of green space. “The Wimbledon Society describes the proposal as an ‘industrial tennis complex with unacceptable environmental impact’,” they said in a statement.

The project has been surrounded by controversy since the All England Club acquired the land in December 2018 for £65 million. Although the district committees of Merton And Wandsworth Although the club has given its approval to the project, many local residents are skeptical about the benefits promised by the club. Paul KohlerMP for Wimbledon, described the benefits as “completely illusory”, with some campaigners calling them “crumbs on the table”.

However, the All England Club has attempted to appease critics by committing to the creation of a 23-acre public park, which will be open all year round, except during tournament weeks. It was also proposed to restore some of the original landscaping, designed in the 18th century by the architect Lancelot Brownand seven of the 39 courts will be available for use by the local community after the tournament.

To defend the decision, Jules PipeDeputy Mayor of London, stressed that the plan would bring “significant economic benefits” to both the city and the UK in general. “Wimbledon is the most prestigious tournament in world tennis, attracting a global audience, visitors and contributing to London’s brand in terms of culture, sporting heritage and tourist destination,” Pipe said, justifying his endorsement.

Even though the decision has already been made, some opponents are still considering going to court to prevent the project from moving forward. While the decision is unlikely to be overturned, it leaves the door open for possible judicial review to challenge the legality of the process, although few similar cases have succeeded in the past.