![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/we-live-in-shadow-of-major-stadium/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/7dee158a-2711-4167-afed-7cbf7caf1c96.jpg&description=SCARY STUFF Published : 9:57, 13 Aug 2023 Updated : 9:57, 13 Aug 2023 RESIDENTS who live in the shadow of a major sports stadium say their once-thriving village is now more like a ghost town. Thousands of tennis fans flock to the Wimbledon Championships every year but locals say the area is becoming too expensive for businesses to survive in. 3 Locals say Southfields has good transport links, including a tube station Credit: Rex Features 3 Tennis fans flock to the area for Wimbledon fortnight Credit: Getty Southfields tube station, in south-west London , is just a five-minute walk from the world-famous ground with the neighbourhood lying between the park and the River Wandle as well as being close to Wandsworth , Putney and Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park . Wandsworth Council recently implemented a £1.6million scheme to improve the area, putting in wider pavements, new trees, more cycle stands and upgraded street lamps, saying the move would improve the travel options and enhance the 'village-style' atmosphere. Sarah Spencer, 59, who moved to Southfields eight years ago, said she loved living in the area as it was 'lovely' and had a 'nice vibe'. She particularly liked the Wimbledon fortnight when the tournament was held because all the shops decorated their windows and the area was buzzing with tourists, visitors as well as famous tennis stars. Sarah also liked it had good transport links with a tube station on the District Line, Earlsfield was just a walk away if you needed a mainline train and you could catch the tram going to Croydon . She also pointed out the local schools had a 'very good reputation'. However, she said the number of empty shops was 'awful'. She told MyLondon : "What's really sad is, here it's quite an affluent area and nobody is opening new businesses because they're stymied by the rent." Sarah said that while there were three chemists, three opticians and three supermarkets there wasn't a bookshop or a dress shop and added it would be nice){kind=link}
RESIDENTS who live in the shadow of a major sports stadium say their once-thriving village is now more like a ghost town.
Thousands of tennis fans flock to the Wimbledon Championships every year but locals say the area is becoming too expensive for businesses to survive in.
Southfields tube station, in south-west London, is just a five-minute walk from the world-famous ground with the neighbourhood lying between the park and the River Wandle as well as being close to Wandsworth, Putney and Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park.
Wandsworth Council recently implemented a £1.6million scheme to improve the area, putting in wider pavements, new trees, more cycle stands and upgraded street lamps, saying the move would improve the travel options and enhance the “village-style” atmosphere.
Sarah Spencer, 59, who moved to Southfields eight years ago, said she loved living in the area as it was “lovely” and had a “nice vibe”.