Wimbledon Park: Council bosses must stand by historic legal promises to protect park from over-development

Lib Dem Cllr Paul Kohler has spoken out against Merton Council's decision to approve controversial plans to build on parts of Wimbledon Park. The plans would see a new 10 storey stadium, a maintenance complex and over 9km of roads. 

Lib Dem councillors are now calling for Labour Council bosses to enforce historic legal promises on Wimbledon Park. 

On Thursday evening, Merton Council's planning committee voted by 6 votes to 4 to approve the decision, with only Labour councillors voting in favour. 

Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Wimbledon, Cllr Paul Kohler, was at the Civic Centre for the planning meeting. Cllr Kohler also attended a protest outside, where numerous local groups from across Wimbledon made clear their disagreement with the proposed development, and made their concerns  about the impact of this development on health, local heritage and the natural environment clear.

Paul said:

"I am disappointed but not surprised Merton's Development and Planning Committee has voted to allow the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) to build their industrial tennis complex on Wimbledon Park. Despite the overwhelming opposition of residents, civic societies and environmental organisations, the planning application was voted through by Labour councillors."

While the application has been given approval by the Council's planning committee - after a recommendation by planning officers - there remain questions about the covenants that both the Council and AELTC agreed to when the freehold of the Golf Club land was sold to AELTC in 1993. 

They bought the land for a 'knock down' price of £5.2m because they made binding legal promises "preventing the use of the land otherwise than for leisure or recreation purposes or as an open space".

Paul said:

"Up to now the Council have refused to exercise the covenants as they were waiting for the planning decision, but the time has come for them to exercise their legal rights and stand by the promises made by the Council and AELTC. 

"To that end I have written to the Mayor of Merton  asking for an Extraordinary meeting of the Council to discuss the covenants protecting Wimbledon Park, where I will be proposing that the Council enforces these protections. Local Liberal Democrats hope that Labour Council bosses will understand and appreciate the impact this development could have on the local area, and keep their word by enforcing the promises both the Club and Council made to the residents of Merton."

NOTES TO EDITORS

• Cllr Paul Kohler can be contacted at paul@mertonlibdems.org.uk
• For more information and background on this planning application, please see https://www.mertonlibdems.org.uk/news/article/aeltc-development and here https://www.swlondoner.co.uk/news/02022022-lib-dems-set-to-force-showdown-vote-on-all-england-club-development ("Lib Dems set to force showdown vote on All England Club development")
• For the Liberal Democrat petition demanding that Merton Council enforce the legal covenants agreed to by the AELTC, see https://www.mertonlibdems.org.uk/our-campaigns/aeltc-petition
• For more information on Cllr Kohler, and general photos, see https://www.mertonlibdems.org.uk/paul-kohler