The Independent: Comedian Andy Hamilton says he is ‘vehemently opposed’ to Wimbledon expansion

The Independent | 8th July 2025 | Callum Parke

"Mr Hamilton joined demonstrators from campaign group Save Wimbledon Park outside the Royal Courts of Justice on Tuesday."

"Comedian and writer Andy Hamilton has said he is “vehemently opposed” to the expansion of the Wimbledon tennis site, ahead of a legal challenge against the decision to approve the plans being heard at the High Court.

Mr Hamilton joined dozens of members of the campaign group Save Wimbledon Park (SWP) in a demonstration outside the Royal Courts of Justice on Tuesday, ahead of its legal challenge against the Greater London Authority (GLA).

Last year, the GLA – which is defending the legal challenge – approved the All England Club’s proposal to build 39 new courts, including an 8,000-seat stadium, on the former Wimbledon Park Golf Club.

SWP has said that Wimbledon Park, a Grade II*-listed heritage site, is subject to similar protections as the green belt or royal parks and that allowing development on the site would set a “dangerous precedent”.

Speaking to the PA news agency, Mr Hamilton, who has lived in the Wimbledon Park area for several years, said he was “vehemently” against the “absurdly huge” plans.

He said: “They are going to decimate the park, at huge cost to the local environment and the local community.”

He continued: “It’s just absurd, the scale of it, and really they float lots of spurious reasons why are they doing it.

“The real reason is the club just wants to triple the size of the current Wimbledon tennis estate so that they can bring in more visitors and make a very rich private members club even richer.”"

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