October 16th 2024.
Thelma Ruby, a 99-year-old resident of Wimbledon, has had a long and successful career as a professional actress. However, she has recently taken on a new role - that of a determined activist. The reason? A proposed £200,000,000 expansion at the Wimbledon tennis championships.
The plans, which have been approved by the Greater London Authority, include the construction of 39 new courts, including a massive 8,000-seat show court, on the adjacent former Wimbledon Park Golf Club. This would almost triple the size of the current Wimbledon site, and Ruby is not happy about it.
Despite her age, Ruby has vowed to take drastic action to stop the expansion. She plans to chain herself to a tree on the site, in the hopes of saving at least one of the 800 trees that are set to be cut down. "Let them arrest me," she boldly declared to the BBC.
Having lived on Wimbledon Hill Road for over three decades, Ruby has a deep connection to the area and its natural beauty. She is particularly passionate about the trees that are at risk of being destroyed. "They admit to cutting down 300 trees, but experts tell us it is more like 800 trees. Cutting down healthy trees," she stated, with a hint of frustration in her voice.
For Ruby, this is not just about preserving the landscape. It is also about preserving the history and character of the area. "Wimbledon will be the top, where they are as they have always been and as they continue to be, without desecrating this glorious, glorious landscape," she passionately declared.
Earlier in the day, at a local protest, Ruby spoke about the personal impact of the proposed expansion. "I live in a flat overlooking this magnificent landscape, which was designed by Capability Brown," she shared. "The club talk about planting new trees, but can you imagine how long it would take for newly planted trees to give the benefits that we now get from mature trees?"
Despite her age, Ruby is determined to fight for what she believes in. "I look several times a day out of the window and it gives me strength to carry on. It gives me inspiration," she said.
While the All England Club has stated that they have conducted an extensive public consultation process, Ruby and other local residents feel that their concerns have not been adequately addressed. Over 7,000 members of the public have attended tours and information events about the site, but Ruby believes that their voices are not being heard.
The All England Club has also promised to create 27 acres of new parkland for the public to enjoy, but for Ruby and others, this is not enough to compensate for the loss of the existing landscape.
As the battle between the residents and the All England Club continues, one thing is certain - Thelma Ruby will not back down in her fight to preserve the beauty and history of her beloved Wimbledon.
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