Roger Draper
Chief Executive
Lawn Tennis Association
National Tennis Centre
100 Priory Lane
Roehampton
London
SW15 5JQ
Ian Ritchie
Chief Executive
The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
Church Road
Wimbledon
London
SW19 5AE
Dear Roger Draper / Ian Ritchie,
I was particularly disappointed to discover that the LTA / AELTC chose yesterday to explain its decision to ban spectators from Murray Mount as being 'on health and safety grounds'.
There is nothing in health and safety legislation which prohibits the continued broadcasting of centre court action to the crowds on the hill during the rain.
Health and safety is concerned with the proportionate management of real risks caused by work, not attempting to eliminate every minor risk from every moment of people's lives.
People have been walking up and down wet grassy slopes for years without catastrophic consequences. If the LTA was concerned about people slipping and suing for their injuries the message should have made clear the decision was 'on insurance grounds'.
Health and safety excuses are becoming as much a feature of the British sporting calendar as the rain. You will understand that while we can do nothing about the weather, we will not let the excuses pass unchallenged.
I am releasing a copy of this letter to the media.
Yours sincerely,
Judith Hackitt
Chair
Health and Safety Executive
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