Wimbledon residents boo and chant “Shame on you!” as expansion plan gets the green light

Opponents of Wimbledon’s controversial expansion shouted “Shame on you!” and could now seek a judicial review after the London mayor’s office granted planning permission despite fierce local opposition.

While All England Club officials cheered news that gives them the right to build 39 new grass courses at neighboring Wimbledon Park Golf Club, protesters said they should expect more challenges.

“We have at least two options open to us,” said resident Simon Wright Telegraph sports. “There is the AELTC’s own legal opinion that the land should have been held in trust for the benefit of the residents. And there is the covenant in place on the site which was put in place by Merton Council in 1993 which, if brought into force, would prevent any development on any part of the park.”

The “Save Wimbledon Park” campaign, which has collected more than 20,000 signatures, involves dozens of local lawyers as well as several show business figures, including the 99-year-old former Coronation Street Actress Thelma Ruby. The movement’s unofficial communications man is Jonathan Morrish, a former press representative for Michael Jackson and an executive at Sony.

Planning permission was granted on Friday afternoon by Jules Pipe, London’s deputy mayor, who stepped in after Sadiq Khan withdrew. There were a few isolated boos in the town hall and shouts of “Shame on you!” from the balcony.

On the eve of the hearing, it had looked as if the decision might be referred to Housing Minister Angela Rayner, whose department issued a so-called “holding notice” earlier this week, saying it needed time to consider its position. But the blocking notice was dropped on Friday morning after Rayner wrote to the Wimbledon Society saying she did not intend to seek the proposals after all.