Wimbledon Tennis Expansion

The All England Lawn Tennis Club plans for expansion of the site at Wimbledon are now the subject of proceedings in the High Court, listed for hearing on 8 and 9 July 2025. This will involve a judicial review of the decision of the Deputy Mayor to approve the development of the site. The Court will also be asked to give a declaratory judgment on the implications of the statutory public recreation trust and the restrictive covenants on the land.

The eventual AELTC plan is to move the Wimbledon Qualifying Tournament from Roehampton to the new site but they now expect to extend the existing lease to 2036.

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More spectacular Sheen wisteria

Chinese or Japanese?

Better to count the flowers than try to read the 166 page Stag Brewery judgment.

David and Nick

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Stag Brewery Planning Applications

The main part of the decision is contained in pages 1 to 44.

https://acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/ViewDocument.aspx?fileid=62142740

Appeal Decisions APP/L5810/W/24/3339060 and APP/L5810/W/24/3339062

Appeal A is allowed and planning permission is granted for:
1) Demolition of existing buildings (except the Maltings and the façade of the
Bottling Plant and former Hotel), walls, associated structures, site
clearance and groundworks, to allow for the comprehensive phased
redevelopment of the site;
2) Detailed application for the works to the east side of Ship Lane which
comprise:
a) alterations and extensions to existing buildings and erection of buildings
varying in height from 3 to 9 storeys plus a basement of one to two
storeys below ground to allow for residential apartments; flexible use
floorspace for retail, financial and professional services, café/restaurant
and drinking establishment uses, offices, non-residential institutions
and community use and boathouse; hotel/public house with
accommodation; cinema and offices;
b) new pedestrian, vehicle and cycle accesses and internal routes, and
associated highway works;
c) provision of on-site cycle, vehicle and servicing parking at surface and
basement level;
d) provision of public open space, amenity and play space and
landscaping;
e) flood defence and towpath works;
f) installation of plant and energy equipment;
3) Outline application, with all matters reserved for works to the west of Ship
Lane which comprise:
a) the erection of a single storey basement and buildings varying in height
between 2 to 8 storeys;
b) residential development;
c) provision of on-site cycle, vehicle and servicing parking;
d) provision of public open space, amenity and play space and
landscaping;
e) new pedestrian, vehicle and cycle access and internal routes, and
associated highways works at The Former Stag Brewery, London, SW14 7ET in accordance with the terms of the application, Ref 22/0900/OUT, subject to the conditions set out in Annexes.


Appeal B is allowed and planning permission is granted for the erection of a
three-storey building to provide a new secondary school with sixth form;
sports pitch with floodlighting, external MUGA and play space; and associated
external works including landscaping, car and cycle parking, new access
routes and other associated works at The Former Stag Brewery, London.

Reasons and Comments to follow.

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Richmond Council Civic Centre

The Council is to spend £9.3million to upgrade the Civic Centre at York House in Twickenham following a Council decision on 28 April 2025.

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Wimbledon Qualifying and Community Sports Centre

Below are the dates and activities taking place at Wimbledon Qualifying and Community Sports Centre Roehampton during the period when the Centre is not available for public use.

Date 
Sunday 11 MayCommunity Sports End
Monday 12 MayConstruction / build commences for the Qualifying Competition
Monday 23 June – Thursday 26 JuneThe Wimbledon Qualifying Competition; more information about tickets to follow later in May
Saturday 28 June – Friday 4 JulyLexus British Open Roehampton (ticketed event via LTA website); visit the tournament website – Lexus British Open Roehampton Tennis Tournament 2025 | LTA
Monday 21 July – Friday 25 JulyLTA County Cup
Monday 4 AugustCommunity Sports Open including access to grass courts, depending on conditions for four to six weeks

If you have any queries, please email cscr@aeltc.com

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Traffic Consultation near Sheen Mount Primary School

A traffic consultation has opened regarding Christchurch Road near Sheen Mount.  .

The proposed road safety measures included in this package are:

– A new zebra crossing on a raised table outside number 71 Christchurch Road: This will involve removing an unnecessary vehicle crossover at the rear of 22 West Temple Sheen and implementing a short section of double yellow lines to prevent parking or waiting.


– A raised table at the junction of Berwyn Road and Christchurch Road: This aims to improve pedestrian crossing safety. It will include a review of vegetation on both sides of the junction to ensure clear sightlines and the introduction of double yellow lines to prevent parking or waiting.

– Installation of new bollards: These will protect the informal crossing point outside number 90 Christchurch Road.


– Relocation of existing school flashing warning signs: New locations will be identified for these signs to enhance visibility and effectiveness.


– Proposed double yellow lines at the junction of Christchurch Road and Temple Sheen:

These restrictions are intended to prevent unsafe or illegal parking.

The consultation ends on 29 May 2025. If you wish to respond go to

https://haveyoursay.citizenspace.com/richmondecs/crssm-25/

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Mortlake with East Sheen Society (MESS) AGM

The MESS AGM will take place at 730pm on 12 May 2025 at the Assembly Hall, Tower House School.

The AGM will be preceded by a talk on Richmond Council’s award-winning Air Quality Action Plan by Jason Andrews and Carol Lee of the Council’s Air Quality Team.

Air quality has been a major issue for us locally and for MESS.  The Mayor of London has been determined to reduce its impact by the introduction of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) initially in central London, then within the North and South Circular Roads and then finally within the M25. 

Londoners have been strongly encouraged to replace their petrol-fuelled cars with electric vehicles and to use public transport and bicycles where possible.  The result has been a significant reduction in air pollutants, in particular nitrogen dioxide, to below European limits.

So why do we need to hear this talk?  It is because there is some unfinished business.  When the speakers presented the award-winning Air Quality Action Plan to the Council’s Transport and Air Quality Committee meeting on 8th April, the Committee made the following decision: 

  • adjust the Plan to include a new pilot programme on non-exhaust vehicle emissions,
  • investigate options to reduce impacts on nurseries including planning controls,
  • emphasise the council’s continued opposition to Heathrow Airport Expansion, and
  • further target engine idling including minor changes to improve readability. 

The speakers will update us on progress on these matters since 8th April.  The talk will last for only 20 minutes followed by Q&A and then the AGM which will be reasonably short.

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The Wisteria Collection in SW14 : Pick your favourite

Tom

Victoria Cottages 26-44

Una

Clare

And for a different splash of colour – Di



 

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Sheen Businesses

Discussions between Sarah Olney MP, local councillors and shopowners about local business interests were raised at https://childlawobserver10.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=2285&action=edit on 12 April 2025.

The politicians were cagey about what was discussed and what might next be done. Business rates are an important problem in relation to the viability of local businesses, but they are for central government. Resolution of that issue is unlikely soon, if at all.

Equally significant and matters for local consideration are security and waste disposal.

On the security side local shopowners, especially the many sole traders, have legitimate concerns about police response times, if they are subjected to violence or shoplifting. These are problems which have been aired regularly. Given the Metropolitan Police plans for disbanding the Parks Police and passing responsibility for policing in the Park to the Community Police, how much more of a problem will that become?

More of a surprise to this local resident was the discrimination against local businesses in relation to collection of their waste. We all pay council tax and we do not expect to pay more to dispose of our rubbish. If you are a shopowner the Council charges you more, and at a rate where it is more economic to pay a private contractor.

How fair is that? And if the Council is serious about its wishes to support the High Street, the problem is capable of straightforward resolution.

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Sir James Marshall

Sir James and Lady Marshall are buried in the graveyard at St, Mary Magdalen Church off North Worple Way. Sir Janes is credited with bringing Catholicism to the Gold Coast – now Ghana. The Knights and Ladies of Marshall were founded in his honour and they visit St. Mary Magdalen on the first Sunday of May every year. That is this Sunday 4 May.

The Parish Priest, Fr. Adrian has written to say that all are welcome to join the celebrations and to meet the Knights and Ladies. And from pictures of previous years they will look resplendent.

Mass is at 11am followed by a short commemoration at 1145 around the grave of Sir James and Lady Marshall.

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