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“Our proposals will deliver one of the greatest sporting transformations for London since 2012, alongside substantial benefits for the local community. “We firmly believe the AELTC Wimbledon Park Project offers significant social, economic and environmental improvements, including turning 23 acres of previously private land into a new public park, alongside hundreds of jobs and tens of millions of pounds in economic benefits for our neighbours in Wandsworth, Merton and across London.
Why is their opposition to Wimbledon expansion?
While for most of us, the wonderful sights of Wimbledon only really play a part in our lives for two weeks every year, there has always been a need to balance the prestige of the tournament with the built-up residential area that surrounds it. That is why, unlike other Grand Slams, there is a strict curfew, to minimise noise through the night for residents. Understandably, people who live around the venue are concerned about protecting their area, and there are a number of reasons for the opposition. One of them is the 8000-seat show court, which will be a very significant structure. In fact, it will be the equivalent of a 10-story block of flats. There is a fear that the venue may also be offered up for events outside of the tennis, such as concerts, which would cause more problems for locals. Then there is the matter of general disruption and construction. The ambitious plans would ensure building work would become a fixture at the site for the rest of the decade, and significant changes to the transport infrastructure would cause further everyday havoc.READ NEXT: How to get tickets for Wimbledon 2024 – 7 ways explained
