Living next to Wimbledon is like being in lockdown! Angry residents say simple tasks are impossible

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Angry residents living next to Wimbledon have complained of 'being in lockdown again' as the tournament returns to the All England Club.

Mikael Grut, 92, a former civil servant who suffers from Parkinson's disease and kyphosis, lives in Burghley House, a residential block overlooking the Wimbledon grounds.

He claims that the return of the Championships has cut him off from visitors, with barriers, security staff and red tape making simple tasks like calling a plumber near-impossible.

During the tournament, access to his building is restricted by two vehicle checkpoints, one operated by Merton Council and the other by tournament organisers.

'There are times when we need someone at the drop of a hat, it complicates life,' he said.

'They even told us if we need a plumber, to get it done before the tennis.'

Mr Grut said all guests must be registered in advance, with residents emailing the estate office so letters can be physically posted on their behalf.

'I can't get to the post office, so I have to email them and ask them to send it for me,' he said.

Mikael Grut, 92, a former civil servant who suffers from Parkinson's disease and kyphosis, lives in Burghley House, a residential block overlooking the Wimbledon grounds

He claims that the return of the Championships has cut him off from visitors, with barriers, security staff and red tape making simple tasks like calling a plumber near-impossible 

Despite the building being used for Wimbledon filming from its top floor, residents are not offered tickets to the tournament

His carer, Conchita del Campo, 71, said: 'It's like Brazil, you've got gated communities.

'I had to call ahead, and Mikael had to submit my car details so I could get through the barriers.'

'It's like being in lockdown again,' Mr Grut added.

'There are two checkpoints, and someone is always there.'

Despite the building being used for Wimbledon filming from its top floor, residents are not offered tickets to the tournament.

'We should charge them,' Ms del Campo joked.

Mr Grut, who has three children, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, said: 'There's some pride in living somewhere famous, people say, "Oh, you come from Wimbledon".

'But it's not easy during the tennis.'

During the tournament, access to Mr Grut's building is restricted by two vehicle checkpoints, one operated by Merton Council and the other by tournament organisers.

Fans in the queue at Wimbledon as they bid to get in on the tournament's first day

A Wimbledon spokesperson said Burghley House residents had received 'vehicle passes and a letter explaining how access to vital services can be maintained' during the tournament 

A Wimbledon spokesperson said Burghley House residents had received 'vehicle passes and a letter explaining how access to vital services can be maintained' during the tournament.

They added there is an allocation of extra passes for additional services.

Merton Council has been contacted for comment.

It comes as the All England Club's controversial £200m expansion plans are set to undergo a judicial review at the UK High Court next week. 

The All England Club want to build 38 new grass courts on land bought from the Wimbledon Park Golf Club in 2018 and appeared to have scored a decisive victory when the London Mayor's office approved the plans last September. 

But the project, which will see the historic club trebling in size from 42 to 115 acres and increase capacity from 42,000 to 50,000, has been opposed by local campaigners, who have branded it an 'industrial tennis complex'. 

Wimbledon remain confident that their plans will eventually come to fruition but the continued wrangling means balls will not be hit on those new courts until 2030 at the very earliest. 

However, local residents have vowed to continue the fight and launched the group Save Wimbledon Park.

The All England Club want to build 39 new grass courts including a 8,000 spectator show court to bring Wimbledon in line with other Grand Slam events

There has been significant local opposition to the plans for more courts by locals

In September, they announced they had begun legal action against 'the Greater London Authority and also the All England Club and the London Boroughs of Merton and Wandsworth as Interested Parties'.

The thrust of the challenge is that Wimbledon Park is covered by a statutory trust, enshrining the land for public use and forbidding private development. 

The All England Club believe such a trust does not exist, and in December took the preemptive step of asking a court to rule on the matter.

Ahead of this year's tournament, seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic encouraged those living close to the All England Club to allow the expansion.

Djokovic, 38, was reacting to objections by residents which have held up the expansion project – which would include a third showcourt – for years.

Wimbledon’s initial proposals were accepted by Merton council but rejected by Wandsworth council.

The plans were rejected on the grounds that the mixture of public and private courts, plus a 23-acre public park, would affect the 'openness' of a golf course owned by the club which has been closed to the public for a century.

Djokovic said Wimbledon is a 'special place', but delivering on their expansion will make it 'truly outstanding'.

He told The Mail on Sunday: 'Having the new courts and all the beautiful new parkland, on what was a golf course, is a real win for everyone in my opinion. I hope they can deliver it soon.'