New legal agreement will keep Tennis fans off the streets of SW19
The famous queue for the Wimbledon Tennis Championships will go through Wimbledon Park again this year, and until at least 2015, following a new legal agreement.
Hundreds of tennis fans eager to see their heroes in action used to camp in a queue on the pavements down Church Road and Wimbledon Park Road, but two years ago it was moved to Wimbledon Park on a trial basis.
The All England Tennis Club felt that system was so successful that it has formalised the move with Merton Council, and the queue will stay in the park for the next five years.
Ian Ritchie, Chief Executive of the All England Club said: "On-day ticket sales are an integral part of making Wimbledon tickets accessible and affordable to the widest possible audience and the Wimbledon queue has become a legendary part of The Championships.
“The decision to move the queue from the pavements to Wimbledon Park was made to provide better and safer conditions for the queuers and to help us manage the operation more efficiently.”
Merton Council cabinet member for environment and leisure services Councillor David Simpson said: "Piloting these arrangements over the past two years means that we know this system works and provides a place to queue that is far safer than in the street, where traffic is heavier at the time of The Championships. We also know that, with everyone queuing in the park, we have cut down on unlicensed street trading in the area.”
March 29, 2010
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