The Udney Park Foundation has submitted a letter to the new owners of Teddington's Udney Park Playing Field's seeking clarity on their ambitions moving forward, with the preservation of the site for communal physical activity a number one priority.

On the 18th August, AHH ltd ended their seven-year ownership of the community playing fields by selling the rights to Leisure Focus, a Chinese-led investment fund based in the British Virgin Islands which is owned by a Mr Wu.

AHH's seven-year legacy at Udney Park was clouded in controversy with the company accused of heavily neglecting the conditions of the playing fields whilst continuously attempting to bide their time waiting for an appealing commercial offer.

The fields have suffered from clear neglect over the years.

The Udney Park Foundation has fought relentlessly to acquire the playing fields, with their bid last year rejected despite support from numerous local sports clubs and local MP, Munira Wilson.

With just two months remaining until the centenary of the opening of Udney Park as a war memorial site intended for the amateur sport in perpetuity, is remembered, the park's foundation is eager to discover how the new owners plan to recover the severe neglect the fields have suffered over the years.

Although Mr Wu's representatives have confirmed that limited communal use can continue to one third of the site that has been leased to Teddington Rugby Club, primarily for the purpose of floodlight training, this does not camouflage the fact that the pavilion and the remainder of the fields continue to deteriorate at a rapid rate of knots and are entirely out of use.

The Udney Park Foundation wants to ensure the current conditions of the playing fields are addressed.

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The upcoming centenary celebrations pay tribute to the fallen pupils of Merchant Taylor's School in WWI. The playing fields serves as a war memorial in their honour.

The Chair of Old Merchant Taylor (OMT) Richard Boorman, has recently thrown his support behind Udney Park Foundations continuous efforts to acquire and protect the future of the playing fields.

He said: "OMT supports the Udney Park Foundation in its quest to acquire Udney Park and its surviving Pavilion as a War Memorial playing field for local community sport.

"The Merchant Taylor's War Memorial Trust remains in existence and it would be fitting that the 100th anniversary of the opening of the 'Old Merchant Taylors' War Memorial Sports Ground' is celebrated with Udney Park safely protected as a Fields in Trust Centenary Field."

The Udney Park Foundation awaits a response from Mr Wu's representatives having proposed a meeting which will help to provide clarity on what future lies in store for the historic playing fields.

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