Petition to refuse AELTC expansion plans
To the Mayor of London,
Following the unanimous rejection by Wandsworth Council of development plans by the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) due to “the substantial harm to and loss of visual and spatial openness” to Wimbledon Park they would cause, we call on you to also REFUSE the current plans.
As mayor, you have pledged to make London net zero carbon by 2030. This is an important goal and a sign of how seriously London takes the climate crisis.
The current AELTC plans would not only lead to the loss of vital green space but also result in a huge release of carbon as hundreds of mature trees are felled to make way for concrete structures. It would take over 50 years to recover.
You should also reject the current application because it will result in a significant and detrimental increase in air pollution and traffic congestion – two other issues you have made a priority for London – for an estimated eight years.
In addition, AELTC has failed to properly consult and account for the views of local residents – clearly illustrated by rejection of the plans by every residents association that surrounds the park. AELTC is not serving as a responsible guardian of Metropolitan Open Land.
Please refuse these plans and require AELTC to engage properly with local residents as a pre-condition to any possible future agreement.
Sign out petition to help ensure the future of Wimbledon Park
The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) needs to accept its responsibility to those who live around Wimbledon Park in its development plans. If you support this goal and wish to stay informed, please fill in your details below.
Background
The Council’s planning committee recognised the case that we, our colleagues in Merton Liberal Democrats, all the residents associations surrounding the park and the Save Wimbledon Park campaign have made for some time: that the park is protected land and the current plans would be incredibly damaging to this open green space.
AELTC’s application will now move to City Hall.
You can help ensure the current plans continue to be rejected by signing a new petition aimed specifically at the London Mayor’s office (see overleaf).
This petition highlights factors that the mayor can and will consider that the planning committee could not, such as impact on the climate, air pollution, traffic congestion and a failure to properly consult local residents.
Please sign the online petition above.
Thank you, and if you have feedback on this or any other issues, do let us know.
Best regards,
Sue Wixley (London Assembly candidate for Merton and Wandsworth)
&
Kieren McCarthy (Parliamentary candidate for Putney, Southfields and Roehampton)