Kingston braced itself for a tourist invasion 10 years ago.

The borough was at the heart of plans to rejuvenate tourism in south London, with local attractions such as Hampton Court Palace, Twickenham rugby stadium, Kew Gardens and Richmond Park singled out as playing a vital role pulling in visitors.

The industry was already worth £200m a year to the town and big plans to expand that figure rapidly were announced by the London Development Agency (LDA) and South London Business.

A large hotel development was already underway.

It was also announced construction was to begin on a new hotel and conference centre in Portsmouth Road before the end of 2004.

Kingston Council hoped a major hotel chain would develop land near Canbury Gardens into a luxury facility aimed at foreign and business visitors.

Tourism bosses drew up a plan designed to make the most of the borough’s attractions, while addressing barriers to tourism such as a lack of high quality 
accommodation.

Kingston’s local plans were part of a wider scheme involving Richmond, Sutton, Merton, Croydon and Bromley to highlight the region’s potential.

Following a downturn in international visitors since 9/11 it was predicted American and Asian tourists would flood back to the capital, following the first signs of an upturn in 2003.
It might have meant millions of pounds for Kingston.


A survey carried out that summer revealed the borough’s shops were the main attraction for visitors – who tended to live nearby.

Yvonne Thompson, from the LDA, said: “South London is full of fantastic attractions for people of all ages and backgrounds to enjoy.
“This plan will encourage visitors to go outside central London, and for Londoners to visit attractions right on their doorstep.”

 

50 YEARS AGO

September 30, 1964

The Chessington Cricket Club’s new pavilion – built at a cost of £4,000 and opened on May 8, 1964 – was burned to the ground.

The result of three months of hard work by club members in transforming the building from a bare shell to a great new venture in the club’s history went up in smoke.

25 YEARS AGO

September 29, 1989

Kingston Vale gardeners gazed enviously at Peter Mitiades’ plot at the local allotments.

It was rapidly being taken over by giant pumpkins, the biggest was 4st 2 lbs and still growing.

Mr Mitiades, of Ullswater Crescent, used no secret techniques – just close attention and piles of manure.

10 YEARS AGO

September 29, 2004

A finalist in Europe’s Strongest Man competition worked as a bouncer at Kingston’s the Works nightclub.

Alex Hunter, 30, was nicknamed Chewbacca and explained that he preferred to talk down drunken clubbers rather than fight, despite his 6ft 5in, 25-stone frame.