Helping Wimbledon run smoothly

All England Lawn Tennis Club from the air Merton Council devotes a great deal of time and energy to making sure the Wimbledon Tennis Championships run smoothly. We are involved in many aspects from taking away people’s litter to making sure owners are not careless when leaving pets in cars while they watch the tennis.

Cleaning up

We carry out a special clean up operation around Wimbledon prior to the championships. We’re very proud of our environmental record throughout the year.
During Wimbledon fortnight an average of five tonnes of waste is collected each day from the waiting public outside the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC)
We have introduced facilities for the public to recycle by the way of specific purple bags
During the fortnight, street-cleansing operatives work from 6am to 10pm to cope with the extra demand in the vicinity of the site. They clear waste bags set up around the queuing areas in the Parks in addition to the collection of loose litter in the area.
Many people queue for long periods of time to see the tennis. Merton Council also provides a service to empty the temporary toilets with their gully-cleaning machines.
6km of roads outside the tennis club receive extra sweeping during the tournament

Traffic management and parking

A large number of vehicles come in to Merton during the tournament and it is our job to try and provide convenient parking for visitors, while making sure that residents can still gain access to properties and parking facilities.

Approximately 600 cars a day use the public car park in Wimbledon Park, which is open from about 6.30am to 10pm.
Special bus services are available to take visitors from Wimbledon Station and the park & ride site at Morden Park to the AELTC.
A park and ride facility is also provided for AELTC staff.

We control the movement and parking of traffic in the area around the AELTC. This includes temporary signing and establishing temporary waiting restrictions, one-way systems, and the use of traffic cones and barriers, as well as fencing to control the movement of pedestrians and cars. Our parking officers also carry out the enforcement of parking restrictions. Please note that vehicles parked in contravention during this period in the temporary restricted streets and areas will be lifted and removed to Queens Road Car Park.

Special provision is made to allow local residents to continue to park in many of the roads around the tennis grounds.

Safety

The Centre and No 1 Courts are regulated under the Fire Safety and Safety At Sports Grounds Act to ensure that all spectators have a safe environment to enjoy. Safety certificates are regularly issued and reviewed.
The ground and the stands are subject to detailed inspections prior and during the championships to ensure that safety levels are maintained to a high standard.
All major developments and improvements that take place at the club are controlled under the building regulations by Merton Council Building Control.

Ticket sales

We work with the police during the tennis fortnight to reduce sale of tickets illegally to visitors to the tennis, and to prevent illegal street-trading in the area around the championships.

One Officer from the council will accompany police on their patrols in the area listening /identifying if offers of tickets for sale are heard. At this point the Police intervene and take details/particulars of the person selling the tickets.

Prosecutions for these offences usually follow within two months of the offence.

Environmental health

Wimbledon is the largest single outdoor catering operation in the UK. Merton Environmental Health Commercial Team is responsible for the enforcement of Food Safety and Staff Health & Safety at the Championships (Building Control are responsible for most of the public safety) and for the Club all year.

Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) from Merton visit the club throughout the year and attend various meetings to discuss the next championships. The main catering company discuss the next year’s menus and arrangements, and the club discuss various health and safety issues. A pre-championship meeting that includes the Consultant in Communicable Diseases is held each year to ensure arrangements will be in place in case of a health emergency.
During the fortnight the Commercial Team officers carry out inspections of the catering units within the site and trading outside. Problems are reported back to the main caterers through their EHO and are usually resolved on the day. Over the last five years there has been a steady improvement in standards within the club.
For more than ten years the Club has undertaken various building projects including the new No 1 Court and the Millennium Building. These have required substantial advisory input from the Commercial Team Officers.

Trading standards

Trading Standards Officers liaise with the AELTCC in the months approaching the Championships and carry out enforcement visits throughout the Championship Fortnight.

Officers provide advice and assistance to the Club on a wide range of issues including:

weights and measures
price marking
trade descriptions
trade marks

All food outlets and bars are visited to ensure that correct price information is being given, and all the beer meters and spirit measures are tested to ensure that visitors receive a full measure.

Officers check for counterfeit goods in and around the ground throughout the championship and in recent years there have been no counterfeiting problems in the Merton area due to our heavy presence.

Dog Warden

Merton Council’s Dog Warden patrols the car park created in nearby Wimbledon Park to make sure no owners have left their pets in the car without adequate ventilation, shade and water.

Fun Tennis Day

Merton Council, the AELTC organise a free coaching day for children with All England Coaches on the middle Saturday of the tournament. Some of the tennis stars usually attend.

Contact us

Leisure Development
London Borough of Merton
Merton Civic Centre
London Road
Morden
SM4 5DX

Telephone: 020 8545 3669
Email: leisure@merton.gov.uk

This page was last updated on Wednesday 2 June 2010

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