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Traditionally the grassy slope dubbed Murray Mount – previously known as Henman Hill – is a popular spot for spectators inside the venue to watch action on giant TV screen during the annual tennis tournament. However, with Monday being rainy, organisers decided to turn off the screen and fence off the area in case anyone slipped and hurt their ankles.
Inevitably, the decision was explained as having been taken on ‘health and safety’ grounds.
Ms Hackitt, always swift to intervene whenever the HSE is presented as interfering killjoy busybodies, has responded by writing to the Lawn Tennis Association and the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club to challenge their terminology.
She wrote: “I was particularly disappointed to discover that the LTA/AELTC chose 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.”
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