The long-shuttered tennis courts on Putney Lower Common remain out of action, prompting growing concern among local residents, who say a valuable community asset is being left to rot during peak playing season.
The courts, located near All Saints School, have been closed for months as the Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators (WPCC) work through what they describe as “the final stages of negotiations” with a new operator and refurbishment contractors. But local campaigners say progress has been too slow, and are now urging authorities and the wider community to help push the process forward.
In a message to residents this week, campaigner Shane McCarthy relayed a formal update from WPCC, which confirmed the courts are currently unplayable due to poor conditions and the fact that “all net post holes have been cemented in,” making even temporary use impossible.
WPCC say they had initially hoped to allow some “meanwhile” tennis while negotiations were ongoing but were forced to abandon those plans once a professional assessment revealed the courts were in worse condition than expected. Two of the five courts are in “extremely poor condition,” while the others are also considered below acceptable standards.
“The cost of refurbishing all five courts is substantial,” WPCC said in a public statement. “And contractor availability is limited during this peak season, which has added further delays.”
No clear reopening date has been set. WPCC said they will provide a public update “as soon as we have agreements in place” with both the new operator and the contractors. The current plan is to deliver a fully refurbished, long-term facility “suitable for all abilities and the widest audience.”
McCarthy said he welcomed the update but warned that delays had already cost the community an entire season of play. “We all need to pull in the same direction on this one,” he added, urging residents to keep up pressure on decision-makers.
Plans going back to 2023
The situation has also reignited wider concerns about local infrastructure and traffic flow in the Lower Richmond Road area, with some residents calling for temporary road closures or new traffic controls to improve safety — especially with summer footfall increasing near the courts, the playground, and nearby school.
The tennis courts are situated on land overseen by WPCC, an independent statutory body responsible for managing Wimbledon and Putney Commons. The conservators first announced plans to seek a long-term operator for the courts in early 2023, but delays have mounted amid procurement, contractor scheduling, and funding constraints.
WPCC’s latest statement, published on their website back in May, reiterates their commitment: “At this stage, changing direction is not an option — we’re focused on delivering a long-term solution that meets the needs of the community.”
Residents say they hope that promise is honoured — and soon.
It is unacceptable for the WPCC to claim that the courts are unplayable They are in the same condition as they were when the evicted the previous licensee, in October 2024. While the courts could do with a good clean, they could be played next week, if the WPCC replaced the post and nets which the WPCC removed. The WPCC are not being straight by hiding behind flimsy excuses by blaming a “professional assessment”. The sole reason the courts remain close is the WPCC’s intransigence in reopening them. The WPCC are funded by levy on residents, and have ample resources to resolve this, but choose not to.