Latest news with #Southfields
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Wimbledon locals reel in up to £10k in just two weeks by renting out their homes and parking spaces
Wimbledon locals pocket up to £10,000 in just two short weeks by renting out their driveways, and even their homes to keen tennis fans from around the globe. Every year for a fortnight in July thousands of sporting fanatics descend on Southfields station as they head over to the world famous tournament. And while for some locals, the standstill traffic, increased footfall and droves of cars prove to be an inconvenience, others have used it as an opportunity to cash in. Some neighbouring roads have strict signs banning any type of parking, certain homeowners allow vehicles to stay on their drive for a fee. Daily parking charges range from £25 to a whopping £150, with some residents squeezing in as many as four cars at once. Meanwhile, those who rent out their homes - either to tennis players or media companies - say they can make as much as £10,000 in only two weeks. Some donate their profit to charity, however, other residents have confessed to using the profits to renovate their own home. Keith Simspon said he and his wife previously rented their home out during the world-renowned tournament, adding that he preferred to rent to media than players. 'We did it for between 15 and 20 years - and it can be very lucrative. When we last did it I think we made around £10,000,' he said. 'Over the years we've put the money towards refurbishments and other house expenses so that's been useful. 'From our experience it's definitely better to let to media than to players.' The 70-year-old revealed on both occasions he rented his home out to players there were 'issues', adding: 'We had damage to the property and lots of cleaning needed. 'Honestly, on one occasion, we had a very senior player staying here - who I won't name - who just left the kitchen in such disgusting state you wouldn't believe it.' And while he said it was 'a lot better' when he rented out his property to media, he said the process became 'too stressful' and decided to stop. 'We haven't done it since before the pandemic. It's just too stressful. We're older now and I've since retired,' he said. 'But we did do it for a long time. You just have to remember to declare your earnings so you can sleep at night.' Fellow local, Deborah Howe, 65, has rented her home out to the same people for several years, quipping that they have become 'like family'. 'I've been doing this for nearly 20 years. I've had lots of coaches stay here and they're always wonderful people,' she said. 'They really do become like family. They arrive and it's all hugs and gifts.. I stay in touch with all of them. They often give me ground passes too so that's always fun.' Ms Howe wouldn't share how much she charged - but said this year the profits are going towards paying off her recent knee and hip surgery. For the past two years she has also been renting out parking spaces in her drive, sometimes to four cars at a time, thanks to a suggestion from her neighbour. 'I do it all online through an app,' Ms Howe said. 'I had never done it but my neighbour does and she said I should, as I have more space. Perhaps the youngest entrepreneur in the area is 14-year-old Oscar Buck, who also rents out his family's parking spaces to Wimbledon attendees. He first started the process when he was 11, by sitting outside his house with a sign, but now also arranges it all online, giving half of his earning to charity. His dad Adam Buck said: 'We can fit up to four cars in here and the cost is £50 - but the company takes 30 per cent so he gets £35. 'I know some people in the area charge as much as £150 though.' The 48-year-old revealed that his son earns twice as much as his sister who is working at the event its self. 'It's nice as he goes out to greet everyone,' the dad said. 'He keeps about half - and gives the rest to charity. Usually it goes to Alzheimer's Society.' Farida Bennett, 76, also donates her proceeds to charity - and over the years has raised thousands for UNICEF. 'I've been booked every day of the tournament. All the money I raise goes to UNICEF to help poorer children,' she said 'I started in 2002 and in 2009 they sent me a letter saying I had donated £5,000. It's a lot more than that by now. 'I charge £30 but I know a lot of my neighbours charge around £100.' Simon Blenkiron, 49, is also using the high-demand for car parking spaces to raise funds for charity. 'We're hoping to raise around £500 over the fortnight - but we're not sure which charity it's going to just yet,' he said. Another woman, who did not want to be named, said she had been renting out parking spaces for decades, always donating her profits to charity. But this year she has gone for a change of pace, donating the funds to a specific university student who she has been sponsoring. 'I'd say the majority of people around here have been doing it for a long time,' she said. 'At the moment I'm sponsoring a university student and the money is going towards their research.' But not all locals with 'parking signs' outside their homes were less keen to share how much they charged or earned. Some houses had as many as six spaces in their drives - which means they could earn over £2,500 even if they were only charging the more moderate prices. Many residents had well-oiled schemes, organising everything online and then leaving clear signs outside their doors for customers. One mum and son using a parking space said the local had sent them a permit - and they used that to enter the roads which were closed for resident access only. Meanwhile, other residents appeared to be at war with parking wardens as one had left several notes on his customers' cars. They argued that they had permits to park there and should not be given a ticket. 'Traffic Warden, this VW has a permit issued by Merton Council to park here - my house - for the Wimbledon Championship,' one read. 'DO NOT TICKET. If you do, you will be personally liable for court costs.'
Daily Mail
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Boarded up shops and overflowing bins. Sorry state of the gateway to the world's most prestigious tennis tournament
The train draws to a halt with a sharp squeal, causing an elderly tennis fan in a panama hat to curse. 'At least we made it though, darling,' says his wife, patting his arm. She has a point. It's Friday lunchtime at Southfields Tube station, the one at which you alight for the Wimbledon Championships.
The Independent
03-07-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Wimbledon deny tennis fans are going to the toilet in the woods outside park
Wimbledon fans queuing overnight for tickets to the prestigious tennis tournament are allegedly defecating and urinating in nearby woodland, a local campaigner has claimed. Simon Wright, 68, a member of the Save Wimbledon Park residents' group, stated that sections of the historic parkland, particularly Horse Close Wood – a secluded area once known as "Piggy Woods" – are being misused as makeshift toilets by some queuers. The nickname dates back to the Second World War, when local residents kept pigs there as part of the wartime food effort. Mr Wright told the PA news agency: "We've come across used tissues – it's clear what they've been used for. Human faeces are far worse than animal faeces in terms of the microbiological load they carry." He added that the problem is particularly acute in the oldest part of the woods, where discreet signage urging visitors to "respect the woods" has proven ineffective. "There's a postcard-sized notice saying please respect these woods – it's a bit mealy-mouthed," he said, recounting an encounter: "Last night, I met three guys heading off there to have a piss." A spokesperson for the All England Club said they have not seen any evidence to substantiate the current claims but confirmed that stewards regularly patrol the area to ensure it is well maintained. They noted that more than 40,000 people had passed through the queue in the first four days of the Championships, praising the Southfields community for welcoming guests with "their usual good will and hospitality". Mr Wright, who lives near the park, claimed that local children have come into contact with human faeces while playing in the area, describing the issue as both a health risk and a symptom of increasing pressure on the park due to the size of the queue. "It's partly the health risk, but it's also the lack of respect," he added. Save Wimbledon Park is a group that opposes the All England Club's plans to build on neighbouring parkland. Concerns about sanitation were previously raised by Mr Wright with his MP, Fleur Anderson, and the leader of Wandsworth Council following a particularly challenging year in 2022, when fewer portable toilets were available. Similar complaints surfaced a decade ago; in 2015, the Wimbledon Times reported instances of human waste, urine "baked dry in the sun", and long queues for limited toilet facilities in the park. At the time, Merton Council confirmed portable toilets were provided and warned that offenders could face prosecution, while the All England Club described the behaviour of a "very small minority" of queuers as "deplorable" and "completely unacceptable".
The Independent
03-07-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
MP demands answers over travel chaos at Wimbledon
Wimbledon's local MP has demanded urgent action over travel chaos that left fans facing cancellations, delays and overcrowding. Paul Kohler, the Labour MP for Wimbledon, posted a letter to X on Wednesday addressed to the Commissioner of Transport for London, raising concerns about repeated issues on the District Line, including signal failures and a fire alert at Southfields – the station closest to the All England Club. He said the problems had severely affected the journeys of residents, commuters and visitors, warning: 'Attendees are now being caught up in cancellations and delays.' Mr Kohler said he had been told Wimbledon station was 'very crowded' on Tuesday and called on TfL to outline what extra support is in place to keep services running smoothly during the rest of the tournament. On Thursday, Campaign group Save Wimbledon Park, which opposes the All England Club's expansion plans onto nearby parkland, said the tournament's impact on the local area goes beyond the grounds themselves. 'We love the tennis – we do,' the group posted on X. 'But there is a real cost to being taken over, even for just two weeks a year. 'Streets are closed, bus routes diverted, parking a nightmare, tube travel ridiculous and traffic at gridlock.' A TfL spokesperson said: 'We apologise to customers affected by the disruption on the District line, which is due to a track fault at Tower Hill. 'Our engineers are working hard to rectify the fault as soon as possible and restore a good service. 'District line customers are advised to allow extra time for their journeys and to check before they travel using TfL Journey Planner or the TfL Go app.' Despite the travel disruption earlier in the week, conditions have brightened up for day four of the Championships. Sunshine and 24C temperatures returned to south-west London on Thursday, after rain caused delays and sent fans scrambling for umbrellas on Wednesday. On Centre Court, Novak Djokovic continues his bid for an eighth Wimbledon title as he faces British number three Dan Evans in the second round. World number eight Iga Swiatek also returns to action, taking on American qualifier Caty McNally. Number One Court hosts men's top seed Jannik Sinner against Australia's Aleksandar Vukic, before teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva plays Italy's Lucia Bronzetti. Maria Sakkari will meet 2022 champion Elena Rybakina later in the day, while British hope Jack Draper faces a tough test against former US Open winner Marin Cilic.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
MP demands answers over travel chaos at Wimbledon
Wimbledon's local MP has demanded urgent action over travel chaos that left fans facing cancellations, delays and overcrowding. Paul Kohler, the Labour MP for Wimbledon, posted a letter to X on Wednesday addressed to the Commissioner of Transport for London, raising concerns about repeated issues on the District Line, including signal failures and a fire alert at Southfields – the station closest to the All England Club. He said the problems had severely affected the journeys of residents, commuters and visitors, warning: 'Attendees are now being caught up in cancellations and delays.' I'm acutely aware of ongoing issues with District Line services, affecting both my constituents & visitors during this busy period. I've contacted TfL for urgent updates on recent issues & requested a meeting to discuss improving reliability of services in short & longer term. — Paul Kohler🔶MP for Wimbledon (@PaulKohlerSW19) July 2, 2025 Mr Kohler said he had been told Wimbledon station was 'very crowded' on Tuesday and called on TfL to outline what extra support is in place to keep services running smoothly during the rest of the tournament. On Thursday, Campaign group Save Wimbledon Park, which opposes the All England Club's expansion plans onto nearby parkland, said the tournament's impact on the local area goes beyond the grounds themselves. 'We love the tennis – we do,' the group posted on X. 'But there is a real cost to being taken over, even for just two weeks a year. 'Streets are closed, bus routes diverted, parking a nightmare, tube travel ridiculous and traffic at gridlock.' We love the tennis – we do. But there is a real cost to being taken over, even for just two weeks a year. Streets are closed, bus routes diverted, parking a nightmare, tube travel ridiculous and traffic at gridlock. — Save Wimbledon Park (@SaveWimbldnPark) July 3, 2025 TfL has been approached for comment. Despite the travel disruption earlier in the week, conditions have brightened up for day four of the Championships. Sunshine and 24C temperatures returned to south-west London on Thursday, after rain caused delays and sent fans scrambling for umbrellas on Wednesday. On Centre Court, Novak Djokovic continues his bid for an eighth Wimbledon title as he faces British number three Dan Evans in the second round. World number eight Iga Swiatek also returns to action, taking on American qualifier Caty McNally. Number One Court hosts men's top seed Jannik Sinner against Australia's Aleksandar Vukic, before teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva plays Italy's Lucia Bronzetti. Maria Sakkari will meet 2022 champion Elena Rybakina later in the day, while British hope Jack Draper faces a tough test against former US Open winner Marin Cilic.
