“Andrew Gilligan’s piece about transport for the London 2012 Games does not acknowledge the plans already in place and those currently being developed to meet Games-time transport demands in Greenwich.

London 2012 is investing £80m in the DLR, which includes the co-funding of 22 of the DLR’s 55 new rail cars and various track and station improvements to increase capacity and improve reliability across the network. This is in addition to TfL’s investment in the 3-car trains and stations for the DLR’s Bank-Lewisham service.

London 2012 will also fund additional rail services at Games time to provide greater capacity where necessary to cater for the increased demand. During the Games there will also be upgrades to local bus services to enhance local access. A further improvement that will directly benefit Greenwich is the provision of a new roof for Greenwich Pier. This will be funded by London 2012 and delivered by London River Services with the plans currently being developed. Walking and cycling schemes between Greenwich and Woolwich are also being delivered using London 2012 funding

In addition to this, Southeastern will increase mainline capacity to Greenwich, Maze Hill and Blackheath stations.

LOCOG’s planning application for Greenwich Park does not propose to create an Olympic Lane within the Blackwall Tunnel. Current proposals are to introduce highway measures on the approaches on either side of the Tunnel. The ODA and TfL are still looking at all options for the operation of these measures. Two and a half years out from the Games we are obviously still assessing transport arrangements and are working closely with all our stakeholders on our plans.

Lewisham Council has also issued a statement of clarification about this inaccurate story stating that it fully supports the London Games, and the fact that Equestrian Events are taking place in Greenwich Park. The Council will continue to work with the Olympic Delivery Authority, The London Organising Committee and Greenwich Council to resolve any issues relating to the Greenwich Park planning application.”

It really is a once in a lifetime event…. end of story!!!!

BRING ON THE GAMES!

the expected 50-75,000 people that attend, will spend their money in our local area

No they won’t because they won’t be allowed to. Do your own research into the IOC “clean venue” policy, which has nothing to do with street-cleaning.

NOGOE – populated as they are by the elitist, remote Blackheath Society

Oooh, a new insult. Haven’t heard that one before. And it is not true.

As for possible transport accesibility issues, people forget that 30,000 regularly attend the free fireworks event on Blackheath and the London Marathon that starts in the heath and progresses through Greenwich. The massed crowds are rarely a problem and in fact these events are the highlights of our calendar, rather than being problems. So for the equestrianism, I am sure a co-ordinated plan can be found that makes best use of Greenwich, Maze Hill, Blackheath and Lewisham stations plus the DLR line alongside.

As for the Park itself, yes the event will close areas of the park for a period of time beforehand, to prepare the course for the Games and thereon to return it back to its current state. But, I would rather have this once in a lifetime spectacle with the money it will inject into our economy, than loose it to Burleigh or Badminton, that frankly can do without it. The locals deserve it.

So I’d request that Greenwich Council please ignore the hysterical scaremongering of NOGOE – populated as they are by the elitist, remote Blackheath Society who are only acting in their own Luddite self interest – and listen to the local communal majority who would welcome it.

Ramallah

Incidentally, how is Ramadan being “accommodated” (the Olympics take place during Ramadan, 20 July – 18 August), LOCOG has yet to tell us? Enquiring minds needs to know. (In 2004, a quarter of the athletes were from Muslim countries, and there are around 10,000 Muslim families in Greenwich, and over 11,000 in Lewisham.)