The London Forum of Amenity and Civic Societies NEWSLETTER JUNE 2019 News Local History Planning and Festivals and Activities and Society Notices page 3 pages 4-5 Environment p6-7 Obituaries p8-9 The Park p10-11 page 12 Above our heads – f ightpaths over Wimbledon © Nigel Davies CHRIS GOODAIR and TONY MICHAEL runway could be descending over a dependent on a third runway but explain the basics behind the recent wide arc from Lewisham through clearly the detail of the fl ightpath f ightpath consultation, and present Bromley, Croydon and Epsom. Those alignments will be affected by the Society’s response. approaching over Croydon and whether a third runway is built. Epsom would pass over Wimbledon, The application for Judicial AS WELL AS planning for a third with the consequential increase in Review by fi ve Councils (including runway, Heathrow Airport has been noise. Wandsworth and Richmond, but consulting on future fl ightpaths. These proposed fl ight not Merton) into the Government’s Current fl ightpaths follow a envelopes would contain the decision to build the third runway narrow east-west alignment with actual fl ightpaths, which will is presently before the High Court. 70% of incoming aircraft fl ying be determined after a further No judgment is expected before the over central London and along the consultation in the summer. publication of this Newsletter. Thames, while the same percentage The revised fl ightpaths are not The Society’s response to the of outgoing fl ights take off to the consultation on fl ightpaths west over Windsor. Those approaching over included a number of points: Under Heathrow’s proposals Croydon and Epsom would H7;3@ published in January, much pass over Wimbledon, Government should specify the wider fl ight envelopes would be with the consequential maximum permitted aircraft noise permitted. Aircraft landing in a increase in noise. and air pollution fi gures at ground westerly direction on the southern level for 20 years (continued on p3) For the latest information, go to www.wimbledonsociety.org.uk, www.wimbledonmuseum.org.uk or the Facebook page. n EDITOR’S NOTE n Wimbledon Society contacts AGM Report President Tony Michael [email protected] THE SOCIETY held its 115th Annual General Meeting at the Upper Hall, Sacred Heart Presbytery, Edge Hill, Chairman Jeremy Hudson Wimbledon on Saturday 11 May 2019. [email protected] Chairman Jeremy Hudson opened proceedings, attended by 74 members, with Mayor Mary Curtin and Deputy Chairman John Mays other Councillors among our guests. The Chairman welcomed guests and members. He thanked Cassandra Taylor, who was standing down Hon Secretary Maureen Field from the Board, for her valuable contribution to the [email protected] Wimbledon Society especially as Chair of the Museum Committee, and Sheila Dunman who was standing Hon Treasurer Corinna Edge down as Deputy Chair of that Committee. [email protected] Introducing his report, the Chairman described the work of the Board and its Committees during 2018. The Planning & Environment Committee Secretary Liz Newman Society held a productive “Away Day” in November and [email protected] participated in local events such as Commons’ Open Day. The Society took a pro-active position on a number Membership Secretary Simon Ingall of signifi cant issues, including the Town Centre Plan. [email protected] The Museum Committee, chaired by Cassandra Taylor, and now Jacqueline Laurence, were delighted Museum Chairman Jacqueline Laurence with a record number of visitors to the Museum during [email protected] 2018, especially the response to the “Wimbledon in World War One” exhibition, which attracted 300 visitors Local History Michael Norman Smith over a 3-week period. The Planning & Environment Committee, chaired by Chris Goodair, actively pursued a number of important Website Asif Malik [email protected] local issues during 2018. Local planning applications were monitored, with 74 letters of objection or Wimbledon Society Newsletter observations sent to LBM planning department. The Activities & Events Section continued its popular Editorial team programme of tours, visits and talks, whilst the Local Sally Gibbons [email protected] History Group involved itself in research and local Nigel Davies Monica Ellison, Asif Malik, John Mays, Jeremy Hudson historical projects. Treasurer Corinna Edge presented the Trustees’ Annual Report & Financial Statements Letters to the editor for the year ended 31/12/18. Please email [email protected] or write to Sally Gibbons c/o The Museum of Tony Michael was duly re-elected as President, with Wimbledon, 22 Ridgway, SW19 4QN Charles Toase re-elected as Vice President. Jeremy Hudson was re-elected as Chairman, with John Mays Printing: The Wimbledon Print Company, 257 Haydons Road, SW19 8TY as Deputy Chairman. Corinna Edge was re-elected as Treasurer and Maureen Field as Honorary Secretary. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter Under our new Constitution three members of the www.facebook.com/TheWimbledonSociety @wimsoc Board stood down – Oliver Bennett, Corinna Edge, John Mays – and were duly re-elected. Jacqueline The name of the Wimbledon Society or that of the Museum of Laurence was elected as a Member of the Board. Wimbledon must never be used to promote personal activities or written work without written permission from the Society. Questions were requested from members about The articles and photos in this newsletter are copyright of those the Society’s work, before the address given by our credited or, where no credit exists, of The Wimbledon Society. No part guest speaker, Rob Cowan, Friends of Wimbledon of this newsletter can be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of the copyright holder. Town Centre. MAUREEN FIELD, Honorary Secretary 2 n NEWS n Map from the Heathrow consultation FULHAM GREENWICH HEATHROW 4,000 - PECKHAM 0 - 1,000ft 1,000 - 2,000 - 3,000 - showing the proposed airport approach 2,000ft 3,000ft 4,000ft 5,000ft 5,000 - RICHMOND PUTNEY CLAPHAM 6,000ft DULWICH envelopes with height bands BALHAM FELTHAM TWICKENHAM EARLSFIELD + 6,000ft WIMBLEDON STREATHAM H"<;5A3?: KINGSTON CHISLEHURST RAYNES PARK BECKENHAM MITCHAM NEW MALDEN As to the long-term future of SURBITON MORDEN WALTON ON THAMES THAMES DITTON Heathrow airport, we feel that CROYDON it is clearly in the wrong place. CHESSINGTON CARSHALTON Many developments in London are WEST BYFLEET EPSOM reaching the end of their economic (if not structural) life after 30 to 40 years and are being torn down and LEATHERHEAD redeveloped. CATERHAM EFFINGHAM A long-term plan for the replacement of Heathrow is needed, given the increasingly DORKING rigorous fi nancial and performance penalties that should be applied, Heathrow (contd from p1) break this embargo should result in as mentioned above. With a new ahead. These should be progressively the airport being fi ned. airports plan for the southeast, lowered every three to fi ve years, Fines levied on the airport when accompanied by the high-speed stimulating the airline industry the performance criteria are broken, infrastructure lines that allow to improve aircraft performance. should be put into an amelioration high quality access, Heathrow Failure to achieve the required levels fund, operated by an independent airport should eventually be closed, should result in the airport being body, and used for sound proofi ng and become instead a major new fi nancially penalised. The airport’s and open space compensation. development project, a ‘western current scale of landing charges The levels of these fi nes should city district’, much as Canary Wharf should also be adjusted to penalise be progressively increased every fi ve is in the east. noisier aircraft. years, so there is eventually an even Proper planning for this new Noise and the pollution stronger fi nancial imperative to wider airport strategy needs to performance surveys should be close down Heathrow, and move the start now. undertaken by an independent body traffi c to new airports. and the fi gures made available to H$<7@3 Addendum the public. Take offs, being noisier than The PEC had been concerned Night fl ights should be landings, should be in a westerly that Merton Council’s attitude to embargoed and any fl ights that direction, over the least populated the consultation might be one of areas rather than over central indifference. However two members London. For landings, a steeper of the Committee met with Cllr angle of descent should be explored. Stephen Alambritis (Leader of the Buildings under the new fl ight Council) and Jason Andrews (Council paths that are sensitive to noise Offi cer dealing with environmental should be suitably adapted with matters for Merton and other local grant aid raised directly from a levy Boroughs) and had a full discussion on the airport. on the Heathrow situation. Open spaces are highly vulnerable It was made clear that Merton to noise and cannot be ‘sound- had intervened appropriately and proofed’. Wimbledon Common, for would continue to do so. It was also example, is much higher than the agreed we would seek to involve the surrounding land, and so is closer Council when further interventions to aircraft noise. Flight paths should were necessary. therefore follow busy, noisy roads We await the outcome of the like the A3. public consultation. 3 n LOCAL HISTORY n Dick Whittington, who lived with The Killing him and his 22-year-old daughter, Ennis Twyford. of Dick Alas poor Whittington strayed into the Giles’ garden, possibly Whittington loitering with intent. Charles Giles Junior (Charles Colman Tyrrell CHARLES TOASE reviews a crime, Giles) a bird-lover, killed the cat reveals a new perspective on “on the spur of the moment” Wimbledon Women and suf rage hitting it over the head with a stick. and resolves a puzzle. The RSPCA prosecuted Giles for “causing unnecessary suffering to IN 1939, there lived at 25 Copse the cat by killing it in an improper Hill a distinguished gentleman, manner”.