Latest news with #queue
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
Wimbledon tennis fans ‘defecating in woods near queue'
Wimbledon fans are defecating and urinating in nearby woodland as crowds queue overnight for tickets to the tournament, it has been claimed. Simon Wright, a member of Save Wimbledon Park, said areas of the historic parkland – particularly in Horse Close Wood, a secluded section of the park formerly known as Piggy Woods – are being used by some in the queue as makeshift lavatories. The Piggy Woods nickname dates back to the Second World War, when residents kept pigs there as part of the wartime food effort. Mr Wright, 68, said: 'We've come across used tissues – it's clear what they've been used for. Human faeces are far worse than animal faeces in terms of the microbiological load they carry.' He said the problem was especially bad in the oldest part of the woods, adding: 'There's a postcard-sized notice saying please respect these woods – it's a bit mealy-mouthed. Last night, I met three guys heading off there to have a p---.' Mr Wright, who lives near the park, claimed children had come into contact with human faeces while playing in the area. He described the problem as both a health risk and a sign of growing pressure on the park from the size of the Wimbledon queue.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Wimbledon deny tennis fans are going to the toilet in the woods outside park
Wimbledon fans queuing overnight for tickets to the prestigious tennis tournament are allegedly defecating and urinating in nearby woodland, a local campaigner has claimed. Simon Wright, 68, a member of the Save Wimbledon Park residents' group, stated that sections of the historic parkland, particularly Horse Close Wood – a secluded area once known as "Piggy Woods" – are being misused as makeshift toilets by some queuers. The nickname dates back to the Second World War, when local residents kept pigs there as part of the wartime food effort. Mr Wright told the PA news agency: "We've come across used tissues – it's clear what they've been used for. Human faeces are far worse than animal faeces in terms of the microbiological load they carry." He added that the problem is particularly acute in the oldest part of the woods, where discreet signage urging visitors to "respect the woods" has proven ineffective. "There's a postcard-sized notice saying please respect these woods – it's a bit mealy-mouthed," he said, recounting an encounter: "Last night, I met three guys heading off there to have a piss." A spokesperson for the All England Club said they have not seen any evidence to substantiate the current claims but confirmed that stewards regularly patrol the area to ensure it is well maintained. They noted that more than 40,000 people had passed through the queue in the first four days of the Championships, praising the Southfields community for welcoming guests with "their usual good will and hospitality". Mr Wright, who lives near the park, claimed that local children have come into contact with human faeces while playing in the area, describing the issue as both a health risk and a symptom of increasing pressure on the park due to the size of the queue. "It's partly the health risk, but it's also the lack of respect," he added. Save Wimbledon Park is a group that opposes the All England Club's plans to build on neighbouring parkland. Concerns about sanitation were previously raised by Mr Wright with his MP, Fleur Anderson, and the leader of Wandsworth Council following a particularly challenging year in 2022, when fewer portable toilets were available. Similar complaints surfaced a decade ago; in 2015, the Wimbledon Times reported instances of human waste, urine "baked dry in the sun", and long queues for limited toilet facilities in the park. At the time, Merton Council confirmed portable toilets were provided and warned that offenders could face prosecution, while the All England Club described the behaviour of a "very small minority" of queuers as "deplorable" and "completely unacceptable".
The Sun
5 days ago
- Climate
- The Sun
Wimbledon fans told ‘DO NOT TRAVEL' with queue already full on 33C hottest opening day ever
WIMBLEDON have told fans NOT to travel to the tennis today due to large numbers of people already waiting in the Queue. At 7.30am this morning – three-and-a-half hours before play starts on the outside courts – an update was issued on the official Wimbledon website. 3 Thousands of people have been queuing for ground passes since the break of dawn – others even slept overnight in tents for the best possible spot – and by breakfast time, it had already reached capacity. And with the temperature set to reach 33C this afternoon – if that happens it would make it the hottest opening-day for the Championships in history – there are concerns about punters falling ill. A statement on the Wimbledon website said: 'Please be aware that the Queue for Day 1 – Monday 30th June – is very busy. 'And to avoid disappointment we strongly advise you not to travel to the Grounds today. 'Please note there is hot weather forecast for Monday and Tuesday. 'In both The Queue and the Grounds there may be periods where shade is not available. 'Please plan appropriately, including bringing water, suncream and a hat. "Water refill points are available in the Queue and around the Grounds.' There were also reports of TFL staff telling fans at Earl's Court Station – which runs the District Line down to Southfields and Wimbledon stations – not to travel. Fans were given a shock when they were told to stay away from SW19 as it is already 'at capacity'. Emma Raducanu giggles as she addresses Carlos Alcaraz relationship ahead of Wimbledon 3 Wimbledon 2025 LIVE - follow all the latest scores and updates from a thrilling fortnight at SW19 An announcement over the PA system put a dampener on any excitement about watching tennis later today by telling travellers before 9am that the area was incredibly busy. The Queue offers fans the chance to buy limited Show Court tickets or a Grounds pass, which are sold on a best available, one per person queuing basis. A total of 500 tickets for Centre Court – excluding the last four days – No1 Court and No2 Court are available for the days that the courts are in play. More than 40,000 punters are expected to be passing through the gates with former US Open champion Emma Raducanu one of 14 Brits in action. The previous highest temperature for the first day was 29.3C, which was recorded in 2001. 3
Times
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
This theatre had no queue — so it decided to make one
Forty years in this job and I've never got used to the queue. I've queued for gigs, queued for nightclubs, queued for football matches. I've been in crushes and bottlenecks, felt trapped, felt unsafe, had a few tetchy conversations with security and had €400 lifted trying to get in at Real Madrid. By comparison, I have always found the theatre rather civilised. I've never been swept off my feet and carried down Haymarket, like I was by a surge leaving the North Bank at Highbury as a kid, and I can't remember large numbers of the audience taking legal action against the organisers of any West End musical, having been beaten up by goons or tear-gassed trying to get in. So nothing like the 2022
