Comments on: From The Horse’s Mouth: Greenwich.co.uk Talks To LOCOG http://www.greenwich.co.uk/magazine/locog-interview/ Greenwich news and information Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:00:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: tom http://www.greenwich.co.uk/magazine/locog-interview/comment-page-1/#comment-4408 tom Tue, 26 May 2009 08:53:56 +0000 http://www.greenwich.co.uk/?p=1401#comment-4408 As I've said elsewhere, I find the tone of NOGOE rather depressing. It's only a few months disruption in three years time. Greenwich Park is already used for sporting events and that's probably a good thing. The Olympics has a special effect on public bodies because it's a special event. Many of their other claims sound like an over-reach, of the sort they decry of their opponents. As I’ve said elsewhere, I find the tone of NOGOE rather depressing. It’s only a few months disruption in three years time. Greenwich Park is already used for sporting events and that’s probably a good thing. The Olympics has a special effect on public bodies because it’s a special event. Many of their other claims sound like an over-reach, of the sort they decry of their opponents.

]]> By: Sue McNeil http://www.greenwich.co.uk/magazine/locog-interview/comment-page-1/#comment-4281 Sue McNeil Sat, 23 May 2009 06:01:17 +0000 http://www.greenwich.co.uk/?p=1401#comment-4281 I ought to share another "snippet" regarding the proposed change of status for Greenwich Park - Tim Hadway has said that one of the "Legacies" will be improved drainage (denied by one of the LOCOG reps last weekend - the young woman wearing the horse riding boots) and an electricity sub station. A group of us saw Nick Raynsford MP at his surgery the previous week and he confirmed that yes, The Park would be used in the future for major sporting events and large scale concerts but that he would, "Strongly oppose" motor racing...... phew that's a relief!! I ought to share another “snippet” regarding the proposed change of status for Greenwich Park – Tim Hadway has said that one of the “Legacies” will be improved drainage (denied by one of the LOCOG reps last weekend – the young woman wearing the horse riding boots) and an electricity sub station. A group of us saw Nick Raynsford MP at his surgery the previous week and he confirmed that yes, The Park would be used in the future for major sporting events and large scale concerts but that he would, “Strongly oppose” motor racing…… phew that’s a relief!!

]]> By: John Bettelley http://www.greenwich.co.uk/magazine/locog-interview/comment-page-1/#comment-4257 John Bettelley Fri, 22 May 2009 17:49:25 +0000 http://www.greenwich.co.uk/?p=1401#comment-4257 It’s worth taking a look at LOCOG’s latest edition of its leaflet ‘Greenwich Park Venue update’, given out last weekend. What’s in it for Greenwich? Worldwide awareness ‘The spotlight will be on Greenwich and its many world-class attractions and unique heritage.’ I humbly suggest we’re already extremely well known; as one small example, this afternoon there were 20 coaches parked outside the park, many from all over Europe. With over 4000 visitors a day, we hardly need any more publicity. Transport ‘The ODA has invested £80m in the DLR, including an extension to Woolwich Arsenal, co-funding 22 of 55 new ..cars and various station improvements.’ I seriously doubt any of this has to do with the Equestrian Games in the Park. Facilities ‘The Council is actively promoting a range of programmes using the games to inspire local children and residents. These include a riding project.., and new sports facilities. ..a new Adidas sports zone in Charlton Park, and Blackheath Rugby Club is providing all-weather floodlit training facilities in Well Hall….for the local community.’ Because of the Equestrian Games in the Park? Oh really? And so on: 'Community – opportunities for local residents and young people to get involved in our plans for the Park (pity they weren’t asked to get involved in the plans rather earlier!) – local businesses...contracts, 70,000 volunteers etc.. Sport and Fitness - cycle routes being expanded, working with Charlton Athletic to provide free football coaching on local estates (sic)' Again, because of the Equestrian Games in the Park? Oh really? They’re trying to blow smoke in your eyes, folks –and I’ve rarely seen such thin and pathetic smoke. It’s worth taking a look at LOCOG’s latest edition of its leaflet ‘Greenwich Park Venue update’, given out last weekend.

What’s in it for Greenwich?

Worldwide awareness
‘The spotlight will be on Greenwich and its many world-class attractions and unique heritage.’
I humbly suggest we’re already extremely well known; as one small example, this afternoon there were 20 coaches parked outside the park, many from all over Europe. With over 4000 visitors a day, we hardly need any more publicity.

Transport
‘The ODA has invested £80m in the DLR, including an extension to Woolwich Arsenal, co-funding 22 of 55 new ..cars and various station improvements.’
I seriously doubt any of this has to do with the Equestrian Games in the Park.

Facilities
‘The Council is actively promoting a range of programmes using the games to inspire local children and residents. These include a riding project.., and new sports facilities. ..a new Adidas sports zone in Charlton Park, and Blackheath Rugby Club is providing all-weather floodlit training facilities in Well Hall….for the local community.’
Because of the Equestrian Games in the Park? Oh really?

And so on: ‘Community – opportunities for local residents and young people to get involved in our plans for the Park (pity they weren’t asked to get involved in the plans rather earlier!) – local businesses…contracts, 70,000 volunteers etc..
Sport and Fitness – cycle routes being expanded, working with Charlton Athletic to provide free football coaching on local estates (sic)’
Again, because of the Equestrian Games in the Park? Oh really?

They’re trying to blow smoke in your eyes, folks –and I’ve rarely seen such thin and pathetic smoke.

]]> By: Michael Goldman http://www.greenwich.co.uk/magazine/locog-interview/comment-page-1/#comment-4246 Michael Goldman Fri, 22 May 2009 11:02:57 +0000 http://www.greenwich.co.uk/?p=1401#comment-4246 LOCOG themselves have stated that total closure of Greenwich Park will last 6-8 weeks and experience suggests that 8 weeks is more likely. There will be partial closure from March to October, which is at least 7 months. LOCOG have also admitted that there will be some damage to the fabric of the Park - how much damage nobody can say but should the Olympic authorities be taking any risk at all with a Royal Park which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site? LOCOG's belated PR effort is very professional and they are making the best of a bad case. But all the detailed discussion is like the turkeys discussing the method of their execution for Chritsmas: what matters to the turkeys (in this case the residents of South East London and the hudreds of thousands of visitors to the Park) is the end and not the means. The decision to use Greenwich Park rather than a venue used to hosting equestrian events was always fundamentally flawed and was taken without any public consultation. The current PR efforts are information exercises not meaningful consultations. LOCOG themselves have stated that total closure of Greenwich Park will last 6-8 weeks and experience suggests that 8 weeks is more likely. There will be partial closure from March to October, which is at least 7 months.
LOCOG have also admitted that there will be some damage to the fabric of the Park – how much damage nobody can say but should the Olympic authorities be taking any risk at all with a Royal Park which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
LOCOG’s belated PR effort is very professional and they are making the best of a bad case. But all the detailed discussion is like the turkeys discussing the method of their execution for Chritsmas: what matters to the turkeys (in this case the residents of South East London and the hudreds of thousands of visitors to the Park) is the end and not the means.
The decision to use Greenwich Park rather than a venue used to hosting equestrian events was always fundamentally flawed and was taken without any public consultation. The current PR efforts are information exercises not meaningful consultations.

]]> By: Paul http://www.greenwich.co.uk/magazine/locog-interview/comment-page-1/#comment-4236 Paul Fri, 22 May 2009 07:15:54 +0000 http://www.greenwich.co.uk/?p=1401#comment-4236 They did state clearly that there will be no damage to the trees in the park. Perhaps some sort of wildlife/tree audit needs to be carried out immediately to count the number of trees in the vicinity for future reference. They did state clearly that there will be no damage to the trees in the park. Perhaps some sort of wildlife/tree audit needs to be carried out immediately to count the number of trees in the vicinity for future reference.

]]> By: Sue McNeil http://www.greenwich.co.uk/magazine/locog-interview/comment-page-1/#comment-4211 Sue McNeil Thu, 21 May 2009 19:07:57 +0000 http://www.greenwich.co.uk/?p=1401#comment-4211 It's a pity that the local Labour Party didn't attend the LOCOG meet and greet as they were outside Maze Hill station giving out Euro election info this morning & telling us that the Park would only be closed for 3 days (said one) and somewhere between 3 days and 6 weeks (said another when challenged) As Neil Walker said on Saturday, they would rather talk to us before they have detailed plans than not talk to us at all but it is not right that they really aren't up to speed on the most controversial of the Olympic Venues without a Plan B - for instance how to get the arena construction lorries to the site without damaging the tree canopy, or whether there will be a temporary change to the gradient on One Tree Hill (Tim Hadway) or not (Fran Edwards). They did say that the arena and stabling area would need to be closed until seeding and successful regrowth of grass around arena and stabling areas - so that's a large bit of The Park out of bounds for 2013 then...... Neil also said that the equestrian events HAD taken place in a park before and he had attended - St Louis he said but as that was 1906 I think he meant Atlanta - I googled the Georgia International Horse Park and it doesn't really have much in common with Greenwich Royal Park, Neil......... I walked the latest version of the course and came across trees in places which which Neil Walker told me I was wrong about.... and ..... what happened to earlier promises about not running through the play park? ... and a BIG AND... security fencing? Inside the walls and damaging the trees? or outside the walls and blocking the pavement?? No, they haven't quite got around to that yet.........I heard a lot of people leaving the tent, grumbling that it wasn't a consultation and wanting to set their dogs on them............ It’s a pity that the local Labour Party didn’t attend the LOCOG meet and greet as they were outside Maze Hill station giving out Euro election info this morning & telling us that the Park would only be closed for 3 days (said one) and somewhere between 3 days and 6 weeks (said another when challenged)
As Neil Walker said on Saturday, they would rather talk to us before they have detailed plans than not talk to us at all but it is not right that they really aren’t up to speed on the most controversial of the Olympic Venues without a Plan B – for instance how to get the arena construction lorries to the site without damaging the tree canopy, or whether there will be a temporary change to the gradient on One Tree Hill (Tim Hadway) or not (Fran Edwards). They did say that the arena and stabling area would need to be closed until seeding and successful regrowth of grass around arena and stabling areas – so that’s a large bit of The Park out of bounds for 2013 then…… Neil also said that the equestrian events HAD taken place in a park before and he had attended – St Louis he said but as that was 1906 I think he meant Atlanta – I googled the Georgia International Horse Park and it doesn’t really have much in common with Greenwich Royal Park, Neil……… I walked the latest version of the course and came across trees in places which which Neil Walker told me I was wrong about…. and ….. what happened to earlier promises about not running through the play park? … and a BIG AND… security fencing? Inside the walls and damaging the trees? or outside the walls and blocking the pavement?? No, they haven’t quite got around to that yet………I heard a lot of people leaving the tent, grumbling that it wasn’t a consultation and wanting to set their dogs on them…………

]]> By: tom http://www.greenwich.co.uk/magazine/locog-interview/comment-page-1/#comment-4160 tom Wed, 20 May 2009 16:09:11 +0000 http://www.greenwich.co.uk/?p=1401#comment-4160 This seems like a great opportunity for someone from NOGOE to take apart LOCOG's claims. This seems like a great opportunity for someone from NOGOE to take apart LOCOG’s claims.

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