The All England Lawn Tennis Club's (AELTC) planning application relating to Wimbledon Park Golf Club has caused much local comment and considerable local opposition.
I have been working with local Residents Associations and Conservative Village and Wimbledon Park councillors since before the summer on this issue.
We have had several meetings as a group and with the AELTC to discuss local residents' issues and concerns.
I have also been raising concerns about the covenant, which was signed in 1993 when Labour run Merton Council sold the land to the AELTC. This stated there should be no further building on Wimbledon Park. This was to protect the open space.
I am therefore arranging a meeting with Merton Council, who hold the benefit of the covenant with local Residents Assocations and councillors. Whilst they are taking specialist legal advice, there is an understandable and worrying concern that the Labour controlled local council will not act to protect the green space.
I know your local Councillors have also been working hard on your behalf on this issue. At last week’s full council Cllr Andrew Howard made a powerful speech highlighting the need to protect the covenant.
Wimbledon Village Councillors, Andrew Howard, Thomas Barlow and Najeeb Latif, alongside local resident Max Austin, have also spoken to many local residents, conducted a survey on the issue and have now initiated a petition to ensure that Merton Council keeps its promise to residents by enforcing the covenant.
You can sign the petition here: https://www.mertonconservatives.org/form/village-aeltc-petition