More than 25,000 people sign petition to stop gun club becoming nursery

By Charlotte Lillywhite, Local Democracy Reporter

A famous shooting club will stay open after plans to demolish it for a new nursery and tennis courts were slapped down.

More than 25,300 people signed a petition to “save” Wimbledon Park Rifle Club (WPRC), which has called Southfields home since 1904.

Developer ISC Limited had applied to bulldoze buildings on the Granville Road site, which included a clubhouse, open-air rifle range and members’ allotments, for a nursery for up to 80 kids, a play area and three mini tennis courts.

But Wandsworth council’s planning committee unanimously rejected the application on April 25.

Elen Richards, team leader in planning and transport at the council, said the existing facilities are “well-used”, and “well-valued by the community” and the allotments have a waiting list of more than 100 people.

Ms Richards said officers’ objections included the loss of open green space “with no replacement or compensatory provision”.

She said the nursery would “result in increased noise and disturbance in the area than the current rifle club”.

The environmental health officer also raised concerns there would be greater activity nearer to residents’ homes where there is currently “quite a quiet open space of allotments”.

Conservative councillor Guy Humphries said at least one nursery close to the site had shut recently over a lack of demand.

It comes after a Change.org petition to “save” the club and members’ allotments was signed by 25,308 people. The petition called for the “demolition and destruction of this green recreational space” to be halted.

The plans also received 567 objections.

Pierre-Emmanuel Galisson added: “This club has been in existence for more than a hundred years, and has been the backbone of [the] team GB competition team.”

A planning statement from ISC Limited said the scheme would bring “more benefits to the local community, by improving local sports provision and encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle for children”, an alternative outdoor sporting facility and increased access to the site.

The statement argued the site is not an “open space” enjoyed by the wider public as it is in a “backland location, is in private ownership and is leased to a rifle club”.

It said the application complied with planning policy at all levels and the nursery would provide “much-needed community facilities”.

A cover letter from agent Verve Planning said the “need for quality early years education remains very strong in the local area, as evidenced by the interest from nursery operators in this site” and that two recent closures of local early years facilities “were not due to lack of demand”.

It also said the amenity of neighbouring residents would not be harmed by the scheme and that it would provide high-quality landscaping and biodiversity enhancements.

ISC Limited has been approached for further comment.

Pictured top: Left, Jon Leech, president of Wimbledon Park Rifle Club, presenting a medal to competitor Keith Ealey (Picture: Bernie Ealey)