Campaigners have expressed concerns at further structural damage to the Udney Park pavilion and have written to the new owners urging for action to be taken, as well as Teddington councillors.

The Udney Park Foundation has been fighting for public use of the community playing fields since 2021 and has been in close contact with the land's new owners, Leisure Focus, a Chinese-led investment fund based in the British Virgin Islands, who took over from AHH ltd in August last year.

The fields and pavilion, which also serves as a war memorial, have suffered from serious neglect for several years and although Leisure Focus have attempted to move forward with gradual improvements, sections of the pavilion are in urgent need of attention.

Jonathan Dunn, Chairman of the Udney Park Foundation, took part in an inspection alongside representatives of Leisure Focus late last year where clear flooding damage could be seen due to broken windows and damage to the pavilion's roof structure.

In a bid to force through action, Mr Dunn has written to Leisure Focus and separately to local MP Munira Wilson and leader of Richmond Council, Gareth Roberts, highlighting the current vulnerable condition of the historical community asset.

In a letter addressed to Leisure Focus, Mr Dunn wrote: "It is a number of months since my joint inspection of the inside of the pavilion with Mr Wu's (Leisure Focus owner) representatives. What we all agreed upon at the time was that without roof repairs the fabric of the war memorial pavilion would deteriorate very quickly. 

 "We witnessed water flooding in via broken windows, skylights and sections of roof. The Parana pine timbers, with which the roof structure is constructed, remained structurally sound at the time, but it was clear that these timbers would not survive a long period of saturation. If this is allowed to occur then the value of Mr Wu's asset will radically diminish, and bringing the changing rooms back in to use will become considerably more challenging and costly.

 "There had been a shocking amount of vandalism in the twelve months since my previous inspection, and I note that since Christmas a temporary hoarding has been erected to arrest this immediate problem, but as yet no roof repairs appear to have started.

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He later continued: "As well as representing the Foundation, I am fielding concerns from a number of local interest residents groups and would appreciate if you could come back on this point so that I can allay everyone's concerns."

Twickenham MP Munira Wilson, who represents Teddington residents within her constituency, has been fighting alongside the Udney Park Foundation to prevent the commercialisation of the playing fields and to add pressure on previous and current owners to return the fields to a standard where local grass roots clubs are able to utilise them.

Within Mr Dunn's letter to Ms Wilson and Mr Roberts, the Udney Park Foundation Chairman wrote: "My email below deals specifically with the deteriorating condition of the pavilion. I would appreciate if you could maybe follow-up on my email with words to encourage Mr Wu to protect the fabric of the building. Time really is of the essence as water is continually pouring in to the building."

For all updates, residents should keep an eye out through the Udney Park Community Field's website, here.