logo
Wimbledon tennis site expansion can go ahead, high court rules

Wimbledon tennis site expansion can go ahead, high court rules

The Guardian6 days ago
A proposed expansion of the Wimbledon tennis site will go ahead after the high court ruled in favour of an original decision to allow a further 39 courts, including an 8,000-seat show court, on the grounds of the old Wimbledon Park golf club.
A judicial review, which started as this year's 138th championship was under way, came after campaign group Save Wimbledon Park took legal action against the Greater London Authority (GLA) over its decision last year to allow the All England Lawn Tennis Club to almost triple its size.
Campaigners asked the judge to quash the original decision made in September 2024, and order it to be sent back to the GLA for reconsideration.
Residents have argued against the loss of green space as well as 10 years of disruption to the local area. They have also questioned its legality, as the proposed expansion would be on metropolitan open land, which has the same protected status as green belt.
The club's counterargument is that what was once a private golf course will be converted into land that will offer access to the public, including a 9.3-hectare (23-acre) park, with further green space open through the year outside the championships. The scaling up of facilities is necessary for players and to maintain the prestige of the grand slam tournament, it says.
The dispute goes back to 1993 when the All England club bought the golf course land from Merton council for £5.2m. It signed a covenant agreeing it would not use the land other than for leisure, recreational purposes or as open space. The campaign group, which raised £200,000 before the review, believes the proposals have violated that pledge.
Aside from the judicial review, a separate court action brought by the All England club will determine whether the land is for public recreation or protected by a statutory trust.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Prime Minister to meet Donald Trump to discuss ceasefire in Gaza
Prime Minister to meet Donald Trump to discuss ceasefire in Gaza

North Wales Chronicle

time25 minutes ago

  • North Wales Chronicle

Prime Minister to meet Donald Trump to discuss ceasefire in Gaza

On Monday, Sir Keir will travel to Scotland to meet the president on his golf course at Trump Turnberry, Girvan, Aryshire, where he has been playing golf since Saturday morning, and where he met European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday afternoon. After a meeting, the world leaders will travel on together for a further private engagement in Aberdeen. Mr Trump will visit the UK again in September for his second state visit. On Monday, the leaders are expected to discuss progress on implementing the UK-US trade deal, hopes for a ceasefire in the Middle East and applying pressure on Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. They are also expected to talk one-on-one about advancing implementation of the landmark Economic Prosperity Deal so that citizens of both countries can benefit from boosted trade links between their two countries. The Prime Minister is also expected to welcome the president's administration working with Qatar and Egypt to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza. A spokesperson for Number 10 said it was expected they will discuss 'what more can be done to secure the ceasefire urgently, bring an end to the unspeakable suffering and starvation in Gaza and free the hostages who have been held so cruelly for so long'. The war in Ukraine will also be up for discussion with both politicians 'set to talk about their shared desire to bring an end to the barbaric war' according to Number 10, and expected to 'reflect on progress in their 50-day drive to arm Ukraine and force Putin to the negotiating table'. A spokesperson for the UK Government said: 'The UK and the US have one of the closest, most productive alliances the world has ever seen, working together to cooperate on defence, intelligence, technology and trade. 'The UK was the first country to agree a deal with the US that lowered tariffs on key sectors and has received one of the lowest reciprocal tariff rates in the world. 'Businesses in aerospace and autos are already benefiting from the strong relationship the UK has with the US and the deal agreed on May 8. 'The Government is working at pace with the US to go further to deliver benefits to working people on both sides of the Atlantic and to give UK industry the security it needs, protect vital jobs, and put more money in people's pockets through the Plan for Change.'

Chloe Kelly sends pointed message to her doubters after England's Euro 2025 win
Chloe Kelly sends pointed message to her doubters after England's Euro 2025 win

Metro

time26 minutes ago

  • Metro

Chloe Kelly sends pointed message to her doubters after England's Euro 2025 win

Chloe Kelly has thanked those who 'wrote her off' and gave her extra motivation to help inspire England to a penalty-shootout win over Spain in the Women's Euro 2025 final. For the third time on the trot, the Lionesses were forced to come from behind to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat after Mariona Caldentey had given Spain a first-half lead in Basel. Just as they had done against Sweden and Italy previously, the holders dug deep to find an all-important equaliser, with Alessia Russo heading home Kelly's exquisite cross to make it all square in the 57th minute. Kelly – who scored a last-gasp winner for England in the semi-finals – had earlier been introduced from the substitutes bench after Lauren James was visibly struggling with an ankle injury, which she had suffered four days earlier in the semi-final. The two teams could not be separated after extra-time and it was England who eventually prevailed after another dramatic shootout, with Kelly converting the decisive spot-kick to seal a 3-1 win for the holders. The Lionesses' latest triumph represents the first time in history that an English team have won a major tournament on foreign soil, three years on from the side's European Championship heroics last time out at Wembley. It is also the third time in succession that Sarina Wiegman has clinched the title, with the 55-year-old steering the Netherlands to the trophy back in 2017 before being appointed by the FA. 'No, I can't believe it!' an emotional Wiegman told BBC Sport in the immediate aftermath of England's triumph. 'We said we can win by any means and that's what we have shown again today. I am so proud of the team and the staff. It is incredible.' Asked if she was shocked to win the trophy for a second time on the spin with England, Wiegman replied: 'Yes, yes. 'I just can't believe it. I have a medal around my neck and we have a trophy. 'It has been the most chaotic tournament on the pitch – all the challenges we had on the pitch against our opponent. 'From the first game it was your first game and becoming European Champions is incredible. Football is chaos.' Kelly's magnificent campaign in Switzerland is made all the more remarkable by the fact the 27-year-old came close to quitting football during a 'dark time' in her career at the start of the year. Shortly after forcing through a loan move to Arsenal having struggled for regular game-time at Manchester City, Kelly admitted: 'It has been tough mentally and it has been draining at times. 'But I think for me, I know I'm a professional and I know I hold myself to a high level, but I think as a human, it was a tough time for me and I'm ready to move forward now. 'It was still a dark time for me because I didn't know how my future looked.' But just half-a-year on, Kelly is a two-time European champion with the Lionesses. Facing the media shortly after England's win, the forward used the opportunity to send a pointed message to those who had doubted her in her sticky patch. 'There were a lot of tears at full-time, especially when I saw my family, because they were the people that come me through those dark moments,' Kelly said. 'I am so grateful to be out at the back end, but if that's a story to tell someone who maybe experiences something the same, then tough times don't last and just around the corner was a Champions League final. 'I won that and now a Euros final, I've won that, so, thank you to everyone that wrote me off, I'm grateful.' Kelly also made sure to thank 'incredible woman' Wiegman for showing faith in her and providing 'hope' when she 'probably didn't have any' earlier in the year. 'She is bloody amazing,' Kelly added. 'She is an incredible woman. What she has done for this country, we should all be so grateful for. More Trending 'What she has done for me, individually, she gave me hope, when I probably didn't have any. She gave me an opportunity to represent my country again.' Kelly continued: 'I knew that I had to get game-time, because representing England is never a given. 'But what she has done for the women's game, not just in England, she has taken it to a whole other level. 'The work doesn't go unnoticed from the staff that are behind her, they are incredible people and I am so grateful to have worked with such amazing people.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Spain manager and star player emotionally speak out on 'cruel' England loss MORE: Sir David Beckham and Amanda Holden lead rowdy celebrations after Lionesses' Euros triumph MORE: Ian Wright names 'major favourite' for 2027 Women's World Cup after England win Euros

Prime Minister to meet Donald Trump to discuss ceasefire in Gaza
Prime Minister to meet Donald Trump to discuss ceasefire in Gaza

South Wales Guardian

time26 minutes ago

  • South Wales Guardian

Prime Minister to meet Donald Trump to discuss ceasefire in Gaza

On Monday, Sir Keir will travel to Scotland to meet the president on his golf course at Trump Turnberry, Girvan, Aryshire, where he has been playing golf since Saturday morning, and where he met European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday afternoon. After a meeting, the world leaders will travel on together for a further private engagement in Aberdeen. Mr Trump will visit the UK again in September for his second state visit. On Monday, the leaders are expected to discuss progress on implementing the UK-US trade deal, hopes for a ceasefire in the Middle East and applying pressure on Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. They are also expected to talk one-on-one about advancing implementation of the landmark Economic Prosperity Deal so that citizens of both countries can benefit from boosted trade links between their two countries. The Prime Minister is also expected to welcome the president's administration working with Qatar and Egypt to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza. A spokesperson for Number 10 said it was expected they will discuss 'what more can be done to secure the ceasefire urgently, bring an end to the unspeakable suffering and starvation in Gaza and free the hostages who have been held so cruelly for so long'. The war in Ukraine will also be up for discussion with both politicians 'set to talk about their shared desire to bring an end to the barbaric war' according to Number 10, and expected to 'reflect on progress in their 50-day drive to arm Ukraine and force Putin to the negotiating table'. A spokesperson for the UK Government said: 'The UK and the US have one of the closest, most productive alliances the world has ever seen, working together to cooperate on defence, intelligence, technology and trade. 'The UK was the first country to agree a deal with the US that lowered tariffs on key sectors and has received one of the lowest reciprocal tariff rates in the world. 'Businesses in aerospace and autos are already benefiting from the strong relationship the UK has with the US and the deal agreed on May 8. 'The Government is working at pace with the US to go further to deliver benefits to working people on both sides of the Atlantic and to give UK industry the security it needs, protect vital jobs, and put more money in people's pockets through the Plan for Change.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store