Thousands of visitors are on their way
With the world famous Wimbledon Tennis Championships starting on Monday (June 23), local preparations are underway to ensure the competition runs smoothly.
A clean-up operation around Wimbledon has already begun with staff from Merton council's waste team preparing the area for thousands of visitors. Hundreds of recycling bags and bags for general rubbish will be distributed around the park.
During the fortnight they will collect on average 20 tonnes of mostly recyclable rubbish from fans queuing in Wimbledon Park, working 6am – 10pm to cope with the extra demand to keep the park clean and tidy. The council's street cleaners will be equipped with hoses and special vacuum cleaners to collect toilet waste from mobile facilities in the park.
With the borough being that bit busier during the championships, the council says it is providing extra parking in Wimbledon Park and will work to ensure residents who live in the area can get in and out of their homes and driveways with minimal disruption.
Members from the council's parking team will be working 16 hours a day issuing parking passes to visitors and keeping the car park clean and running smoothly. Temporary waiting restrictions will be placed on roads around the All England Club to keep traffic moving. A park and ride service will be available from Morden Park to the championships.
Officers from the council's trading standards and environmental health teams will make daily visits to the All England Club and the Wimbledon area, to protect fans from any potential illegal traders, ticket touts and the sale of counterfeit goods. They will also make sure all catering facilities meet their hygiene standards.
Leader of Merton Council, Councillor Stephen Alambritis said: "We are proud to be home to the championships and work hard to ensure they are successful for both the fans and our residents, with our staff going the extra mile to make sure everyone keeps safe and enjoys their experience.
"The Wimbledon Tennis Championships always bring a great benefit to the borough with visitors from across the country and overseas coming to Merton. Local restaurants and businesses welcome all the tennis fans, making Wimbledon a thriving and vibrant place for business and fun."
June 17, 2014
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