‘Let them arrest me’: 99-year-old actor may chain herself to Wimbledon railings

Centenarian Activist Vows to Defend Wimbledon's Green Spaces

A 99-year-old actor has threatened to "chain myself to the grounds" of the All England Club if controversial plans to build 39 new tennis courts at Wimbledon are approved on Friday. Thelma Ruby, who has appeared with Orson Welles and Judi Dench on stage and lives in a flat overlooking the club, said she was determined to take a stand on environmental grounds.

Protecting Wimbledon's Iconic Landscape for Future Generations

Veteran Actress Refuses to Back Down in the Face of Development Plans

Thelma Ruby, a 99-year-old actress with an impressive career spanning stage and screen, has vowed to take drastic action to prevent the proposed expansion of the All England Club's facilities at Wimbledon. The plans, which include the construction of 39 new tennis courts, have sparked outrage among local residents who fear the environmental impact and loss of green spaces.Ruby, who has lived in a flat overlooking the Wimbledon grounds for years, is determined to do whatever it takes to protect the area's iconic landscape. "I said: 'What's going to happen?'" she explained, recounting a conversation with a representative from the "tennis courts" project. "He said: 'Oh, all the trees will be cut down, and there will be eight tennis courts between you and the lake and it'll take years to build.'"The prospect of losing the beautiful view from her window and the disruption caused by years of construction has galvanized Ruby into action. "This beautiful view I get when I look out of my window is not only going to be a building site, but there are going to be polluting lorries passing my window every 10 minutes," she lamented. "And we know, in this day and age, how important trees are. I look several times a day out of the window and enjoy my view. And it gives me strength to carry on."

The Battle for Wimbledon's Green Spaces Intensifies

The All England Club has argued that the proposed expansion is necessary to ensure Wimbledon remains the world's pre-eminent tennis tournament, with the addition of a third 8,000-seat show court and 38 other grass courts for qualifying and practice. However, local residents have vehemently opposed the plans, citing the environmental damage, lengthy construction timeline, and the loss of protected metropolitan open land.The decision on the plans was initially approved by Merton Council, but the proposal was later referred to the Greater London Authority (GLA) after Wandsworth Council rejected the scheme last November. Despite this setback, the All England Club's plans appeared to gain momentum last week when GLA planning officers recommended that conditional planning permission should be granted at a public hearing on September 27th.

Veteran Actress Vows to Take a Stand, Undeterred by Potential Arrest

Undaunted by the prospect of potential arrest, Ruby has vowed to take drastic action to prevent the development from going ahead. "No, I'm 99. Let them arrest me," she defiantly stated when asked if she was worried about being detained for her planned protest.At a packed public meeting organized by the Save Wimbledon Park group, Ruby made her position clear. "I said: 'What's going to happen?'" she recounted. "He said: 'Oh, all the trees will be cut down, and there will be eight tennis courts between you and the lake and it'll take years to build.'"Ruby's unwavering commitment to protecting the area's green spaces has inspired others to join the fight. The Liberal Democrat MP for Wimbledon, Paul Kohler, told the public meeting that "all is not lost" and that they would have a strong case in the courts even if the decision went against them on Friday.

The Fight for Wimbledon's Future: A Long-Term Battle Ahead

Christopher Coombe, a representative of the Save Wimbledon Park group, echoed Kohler's sentiment, stating that the GLA stage was just the "third set" in a long-term battle. "It's not a done deal," Coombe told the Guardian. "We are just entering the third set tiebreak, and have plenty of aces to serve. The fourth set is the secretary of state and the fifth the courts. We are in it for the long haul."The decision on the All England Club's plans will ultimately be made by Jules Pipe, the deputy mayor of London, after the mayor, Sadiq Khan, recused himself from the process due to his previous public support for the plans in 2021.As the battle for Wimbledon's green spaces continues, the determined actions of Thelma Ruby and the local community have become a symbol of the fight to preserve the area's iconic landscape for future generations. With the courts and the public's support, they remain steadfast in their commitment to protecting the natural beauty that has long defined the Wimbledon experience.