To: Debbie Jevans, CBE, Chair – AELTC
From: Charles Runcie, Chair Southfields Grid Residents’ Association
Dear Debbie
Note of discussion of the handling of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships fortnight
Please find below a note of issues raised at the discussion at the SGRA Public Meeting on 21 July.
Street cleaning
• The streets were very dirty after the Championships. A cleaning operative explained that the black, oily-looking residue is not oil or tar but is likely spilled free drinks/coffee given away near the tube and towards Wimbledon Park, trodden in and baked into the surface by the heat.
• A deep clean had been carried out 2–3 weeks before the Championships, and a post-event clean (3+ days, high-pressure washers) was underway, starting at M&S and working up to the traffic lights.
• Cleaning is carried out by Krinkels, Wandsworth’s street-cleaning contractor. Cllr Guy Humphries is pressing Krinkels to clean Southfields more frequently, and AELTC have confirmed, by email from Johnny Perkins, that they will contribute to post-Championships cleaning.
• The current three-day jet-washing was instigated by the Southfields Business Forum through close contact with the council.
• Concern was raised that greasy pavements along the shops on Replingham Road are a slip hazard for the elderly and for wheelchair/walker users.
- Though bins on Wimbledon Park Road were being emptied quite regularly, because of the sheer volume of visitors coming to Southfields, it would not be long before they were over full. This had been reported to Wandsworth Borough Council.
The queue and Wimbledon Park
• Queuing began as early as 7.30am on the Saturday before the Championships, despite the agreed 2pm Sunday start, with no facilities for those arriving early; the park was effectively used as a toilet.
• There were no shower facilities at the start of the Championships fortnight (raised by campers, including a group from South Africa). It was subsequently noted that Grassroots Padel, in the arena, were offering showers at around £5 per person. Shower provision will be pursued through the WCCP in the run-up to the 2027 Championships.
• The first arrivals in the queue were largely international visitors unaware of local norms; stewards acknowledged a communication breakdown between AELTC and ground staff.
• Questions were raised about the tickets available within Wimbledon Park from 6pm and how well these are publicised locally, as many residents were unaware of them. The position on Queue tickets and discounted community tickets will be clarified with AELTC via the WCCP, and an update will be given at the SGRA meeting on 29 September.
• Several residents said they love the atmosphere and that the campers were well behaved.
Safety and security
• With 12,000–15,000 people in an uncontrolled public park, there is minimal security, no searching and no ticketing (anyone can enter or leave), in contrast to the tightly controlled tennis grounds.
• The top of Revelstoke Road was blocked for three days, with the main gates kept closed to prevent food deliveries, and a car was able to drive through the queue area. It was subsequently established that vehicles driving through the queue area were delivering food and drink to Grassroots Padel, which AELTC had authorised.
• Lime bikes and cyclists jumping red lights at the junction near the park create danger. Police were present but focused on directing visitors and on counter-terrorism observation rather than intervening in law-breaking or policing the junction.
• A view was expressed that more should be done to encourage younger people to take an interest in tennis.
Responsibility
• The London Borough of Merton owns the park, and residents noted that Merton and AELTC appear to pass responsibility between each other and that the two boroughs need to work together more effectively. It was subsequently clarified that AELTC rents the Great Park in Wimbledon Park for the duration of the Championships, so the duty of care passes to AELTC for that period. For the remaining areas of the park, AELTC and Merton have agreed that Merton will step in where AELTC cannot resolve an issue. There were nonetheless communication breakdowns, for example over early queuing, which will be pursued via the WCCP.
• Merton opposition councillors (Jil Hall, Nick Thomas and Tony Reiss) said they raise these issues but feel brushed aside, and that the commercial/financial relationship between Merton and AELTC is not transparent or disclosed despite requests. Merton’s director (Anthony Hopkins) has previously given reassurances at meetings with AELTC.
• Several residents felt that AELTC, as a wealthy organisation running an international tournament for profit, should fund adequate security, hospitality and toilet facilities.
There is no doubt that much progress has been made to make improvements arising from the 2025 Championships. There continues to be great merit in the WCCP continuing to meet. At the next meeting of the Panel on 23 September, I hope that it will be possible to make public a progress report of what improvements have taken place alongside an acknowledgement of what areas need to be resolved. I, and many others, wish it well.
I am copying this letter to Fleur Anderson MP, Councillors Humphries (WBC), Owens (WBC), Hall (MBC), Thomas (MBC) and Reiss (MBC), Dominic Foster (AELTC), Tristan Wesley (AELTC), Ulrika Hogberg (AELTC) and Johnny Perkins (AELTC). A copy will be uploaded onto the SGRA website.
Yours sincerely
Charles Runcie, Chair – Southfields Grid Residents’ Association
