"I live yards from Wimbledon's Centre Court but I HATE tennis - I can't wait for loud spectators to be gone"
- 10 months ago
A woman living just a few hundred yards from Wimbledon's Centre Court has told how she hates tennis.
Louisa Blenkiron, 45, is only a couple of roads from the iconic courts in SW19, but is frustrated by the annual takeover of the area.
With road closures, an influx of visitors and excessive noise, she is counting down the days until it is over.
She said: “It is absolutely awful. I hate it.
“You get traffic building up because people don’t know where they are going and go the wrong way.
“I always see them chatting to the guys who are manning the closed roads and they chat for them forever and I just have to wait when I need to get to work.”
The artist feels that things have got worse since they started closing main roads in the area.
She added: “It used to not be too bad but since Covid they have started closing the roads and it is just a nightmare for the residents who need to get about every day.
“I have to go to work and take my daughter to school and it just takes so long to get anywhere.”
Around the area many locals rent out their driveways and even their houses to make a bit of extra cash during the two week tournament.
But with people freeing up their driveways for visitors, Ms Blenkiron has been left frustrated as residents end up parking their cars around the front of her house, leaving no space free.
She said: “You can’t park anywhere because people are renting out their drives. To make space they park round the front and I think now you wouldn’t be able to find a space to park for about two miles.”
Despite her hatred of the event, she wouldn’t consider moving.
She said: “I like it here and I like my house so I wouldn’t move. At the end of the day it is just a few weeks but I just get so fed up. I can’t wait until it’s over.”
Some other residents are frustrated by the amount of construction going on at the site.
A local, who wished not to be named, was shocked when her house started to shake as work was being done to the pavilion.
She said: “It feels like construction has been going on for months.
“When the pavilion was being built it was so noisy and I swear I felt the house shake.”
However, some residents look forward to the event, and enjoy the buzz that comes with the tournament.
But Paul Bristow, 60, an events organiser who lives just a stone's throw from Centre Court, said: “I know some people complain but it’s not too bad for two weeks of the year.
“We love it. There is a great atmosphere and it really brings people together.
“You get a real sense of community as you walk down the high street and see all the shops decorated with tennis balls and rackets.
“You do get people trying to park up the road but it doesn’t bother me really. Like I said its only for a few weeks and it all goes back to normal again.”
Louisa Blenkiron, 45, is only a couple of roads from the iconic courts in SW19, but is frustrated by the annual takeover of the area.
With road closures, an influx of visitors and excessive noise, she is counting down the days until it is over.
She said: “It is absolutely awful. I hate it.
“You get traffic building up because people don’t know where they are going and go the wrong way.
“I always see them chatting to the guys who are manning the closed roads and they chat for them forever and I just have to wait when I need to get to work.”
The artist feels that things have got worse since they started closing main roads in the area.
She added: “It used to not be too bad but since Covid they have started closing the roads and it is just a nightmare for the residents who need to get about every day.
“I have to go to work and take my daughter to school and it just takes so long to get anywhere.”
Around the area many locals rent out their driveways and even their houses to make a bit of extra cash during the two week tournament.
But with people freeing up their driveways for visitors, Ms Blenkiron has been left frustrated as residents end up parking their cars around the front of her house, leaving no space free.
She said: “You can’t park anywhere because people are renting out their drives. To make space they park round the front and I think now you wouldn’t be able to find a space to park for about two miles.”
Despite her hatred of the event, she wouldn’t consider moving.
She said: “I like it here and I like my house so I wouldn’t move. At the end of the day it is just a few weeks but I just get so fed up. I can’t wait until it’s over.”
Some other residents are frustrated by the amount of construction going on at the site.
A local, who wished not to be named, was shocked when her house started to shake as work was being done to the pavilion.
She said: “It feels like construction has been going on for months.
“When the pavilion was being built it was so noisy and I swear I felt the house shake.”
However, some residents look forward to the event, and enjoy the buzz that comes with the tournament.
But Paul Bristow, 60, an events organiser who lives just a stone's throw from Centre Court, said: “I know some people complain but it’s not too bad for two weeks of the year.
“We love it. There is a great atmosphere and it really brings people together.
“You get a real sense of community as you walk down the high street and see all the shops decorated with tennis balls and rackets.
“You do get people trying to park up the road but it doesn’t bother me really. Like I said its only for a few weeks and it all goes back to normal again.”