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Andrew Gilligan: What legacy?

December 15, 2012 By Andrew Gilligan

I’ve been criticised in a few quarters for never saying anything positive about the Olympics in Greenwich, so let me find something good to say about it now: it’s over. Apart from the bill, of course. And the Games Makers’ Christmas single. Oh yes, and the damage to the park, that place of little importance - parts of which, at the time of writing, look a bit like the Somme.

More about the park later. In the meantime, however, let’s talk legacy. You know how keen I am to realise the full benefit for Greenwich of our Greatest Ever Summer. I will shortly be announcing my new Column Legacy Masterplan Framework for a world-class, 21st-century greenwich.co.uk column, a column aimed at inspiring all SE10 residents to Go For Gold!

By no later than August 2136 (date subject to change), my powerful and dynamic vision will bring about the unparalleled transformation of Olympic-related online commentary. In a true expression of the spirit of the Games, it will totally regenerate grassroots column-writing, creating up to 10 million new hyperlocal bloggers (figure to be confirmed) in vibrant multimedia hubs throughout the Lower Lea Valley. Using only the latest exemplar sustainable word-processing technologies, our columns will deliver a lasting legacy for London of year-round sunshine, free drinks and England winning the football.

The real claims actually being made about the legacy of the Games are, in fact, scarcely less preposterous. This week, in an example of churnalism at its worst, the BBC did a story headlined “Olympic legacy report: 5,000 jobs created in Greenwich.” Alas, both the Beeb piece, and the council report it’s based on, only make clear obliquely that all these “5,000 jobs” were temporary. They were “created” only to disappear again. They no longer exist.

Indeed, it appears that the vast majority of even these “jobs” had a lifespan only slightly longer than the average mayfly’s. I was puzzled by the 5,000 figure: I’d thought that across London, including Stratford, only about 1,000 Greenwich borough residents were involved in building the Olympic venues. And indeed, the council report confirms that figure: 1,177 is the number it gives, plus a further 22 apprentices.

Incredibly, it looks like almost all the others in Greenwich Council’s claimed 5,000 total were even more temporary: staff taken on by Locog only for the period of the Games, that is, two to six weeks. Some of them may even have been volunteers – it’s not clear. Frankly, a fortnight’s work as a hot-dog salesman is not going to be the economic lifeline anyone is looking for.

The actual number of real, permanent jobs created for Greenwich residents by the Olympics is almost certainly nil, or possibly even negative. Careful reading of the report reveals that a much-ballyhooed link with China, under discussion since 2007, has so far produced rather more photo-opportunities and trips to Beijing than it has produced jobs for people in Greenwich.

Away from the fantasyland of councillor junketing, a big part of the area’s real economy depends on tourism – but despite the council’s attempts to spin the Games as “a substantial boost to an already thriving tourism industry,” shopkeepers tell me that trade is very sharply down this year.

That’s hardly surprising, since the centrepiece of the Greenwich tourist “offer” – the park and observatory – was completely closed at the height of the tourist season, and partly closed for the vast majority of the entire year. Several other attractions, including the 02, had reduced access, too. Non-Olympic visitors were explicitly told to avoid Greenwich. And even the Olympic crowds were coralled away from anything resembling a local business.

As I reported back in August, trade in the town centre collapsed at what is normally its busiest time. A couple of town centre businesses have closed and I would not be surprised if others had cut staff.

The rest of the council’s report does the usual trick of claiming as “Olympic legacy” a lot of things that were happening anyway – such as the three new hotels that have opened on Greenwich High Road. Hotels earn their construction costs back over a period of many years. The presence or absence of two weeks of sport cannot possibly have any bearing on the long-term viability of businesses like these.

Then there’s the line that Greenwich businesses secured “£28 million of contracts” with the Olympic agencies and their main contractors. Yes, but the vast majority of that £28 million was our own money, taken from us all in taxes. On a simple population basis, Greenwich taxpayers’ share of the Olympic bill was at least £50 million – in practice it will be more, since there are more higher-rate taxpayers in London than in the rest of the UK - so we actually got less back from the Games than it took from us.

But perhaps the crowning inanity comes with virtually the only real “legacy” project in the whole report – almost the only substantial thing in Greenwich that really wouldn’t exist without the Olympics. Can you guess what it is? No? Well, at a cost of £3.1 million, the council will next year open a new “equestrian and horticulture centre” in Shooters Hill to offer courses in “horse handling” for those who want to get a “career in the industry.” Correct me if I’m wrong, but is this 2012 or 1912? Is there some redoubt, some pocket of hansom cabs and draymen that I’ve missed? Or isn’t the “horse industry” in London these days really quite small?

Ironically enough, part of the site was previously used for one of the few genuine equine enterprises that existed in the “Royal Borough,” pre-Games: the donkey rides that Len Thorne has offered on Blackheath for the last six decades. Mr Thorne was evicted from his traditional pitch, by the Greenwich Park gates, because of the Olympics. Then he found that he was also losing his stables, on Shooters Hill, to the council’s preposterous equestrian legacy project. He died in July, a few days before the Games started, a penniless man, according to his daughter.

The Shooters Hill centre was originally puffed as enabling disadvantaged children to take up horseriding – but a little line in this week’s Greenwich Time says its courses will now only be open to over-16s with “some experience of working with horses.” For its millions, the council is getting only a limited share of the centre’s time – so it could quite easily end up as essentially another middle-class riding school of the kind that exists perfectly happily across the Home Counties without the need for a taxpayer subsidy.

In one final element of the travesty, the centre has been built on what was supposed to be protected Metropolitan Open Land – so the legacy of the Golden Games will actually be less public space in Greenwich for sport and recreation than there was before.

What improvements does Greenwich need for the future? Less traffic, better schools, more jobs? No, silly, what Greenwich needs is less open space, and more horses!

Filed Under: Andrew Gilligan Tagged With: London 2012 Olympics

London 2012 Equestrian events draw to a close, park reinstatement has begun

August 9, 2012 By Rob Powell

LONDON 2012's Equestrian events have concluded, with Team GB scoring a brace of medals in Greenwich Park. Although the Modern Pentathlon events are still to take place this weekend, parts of the park have begun to open up again and work is now under way to restore it.

Locog had previously published plans for the phased re-opening  of the park that indicated large swathes would be accessible from August 4th.

But when the day came, despite London 2012 posters on gates saying the park was re-opening "as planned", many gates were still locked, the opening of the Observatory had been delayed by ten days and the expected crossing points between the East and West sides of the park weren't present.

One local councillor, Matthew Pennycook, took to his blog to express his disappointment, adding that "the incremental opening of the park and the revisions being made ... lie outside the spirit of the original planning permission."

By Wednesday of this week, about 30% of the park had been reopened and Royal Parks invited the local media to learn more about the reinstatement ahead.

Royal Parks are already working on reinstating areas of the park on the cross country route. The final part of the park to be handed back to them will be in the stadium area which isn't expected to be completely taken down until November.

These are a selection of images from the re-opened parts of the park followed by comments from Park Manager, Graham Dear, and Royal Parks' London 2012 Project Manager, Derrick Spurr.

Greenwich Park reinstatement begins
About 30% of the park has now reopened - this picture was taken from the Crooms Hill Gate entrance.

Greenwich Park reinstatement begins
Areas of grass that have had heavy structures or trackway laid may be fenced off so that the ground can be protected as it recovers.

Greenwich Park reinstatement begins
The tennis courts will reopen in September - they have been used as a warm area for horses.

Greenwich Park reinstatement begins
The cross country course went past the Henry Moore statue. The photo shows where the course went through the now famous Acid Grass. Park bosses have previously described how they plan to use chemical solution Rescue on affected acid grasslands.

Greenwich Park reinstatement begins - Cricket ball jump
Park Manager shows where the Cricket Ball jump was on the cross country course.

Greenwich Park reinstatement begins
A London 2012 logo spray painted on for the benefit of an overhead cable cam is beginning to fad and grow out.

What work will be carried out on damaged grass in the park?

GD: All around the cross country route we are going around with a machine that we call Vertidrain. It's a spiker that we use where the ground may be compacted. That gets air in to the soil to allow it to drain. It's only a precautionary thing really.

Where the grass has gone yellow, if it's going to recover we'll just scarify it, mow it over, rake out any of the thatch, maybe put a bit of quick release fertiliser on to give it a boost and it will be fine. That is a lot of the reinstatement.

In other areas where you've had overlay, for instance underneath heavy concrete blocks, the grass  will be dead so we'll have to scarify it, fork it over, put a bit of top soil and seed it. If there are very large areas, we may decide to turf it.

DS: Within one growing season, it will be very difficult to see where the events have taken place and I'm absolutely confident of that.

Will any special work be required at the "take off" areas before each jump on the cross country course?

GD: We will fork it, lift it, put a bit of top soil down and seed it, but on the course, it's actually not that bad.

Why has the schedule for re-opening parts of the park slipped?

GD: We'll open it as soon as possible in consultation with Locog but only when it's safe to do so.

DS: We've opened up about a third of the park. We said we'd start to open up on the 4th and now it's the 8th. We're hopefully going to be opening up more later this week, I don't feel like we're too far behind. In that promise that was made, there was a caveat. Lots of big things moving around don't mix too well with the public so we're very anxious about health and safety and so is Locog.

The biggest issue is that there's no East West connection which we're pushing Locog hard to get because we've opened both sides but people want to come in one side and go out the other. They've not given us a clear date but we're pushing hard.

When will the new Blackheath Gate be finished?

DS: The first phase has been done. The new gate and the central pillar will go in with work starting in November. Brick work can be quite weather sensitive but the plan is to start in November and carry on until January or February.

I was Park Manager here for 14 years and it was always one of my ambitions to get those gates done so it will be nice to see it whilst I'm still here!

With the perceived success of the equestrian events in Greenwich Park, will it be a once-in-a-lifetime experience or might other such competitions be staged there in the future?

DS: There's no plans to have events of this type in the foreseeable future. You never know what will come our way as the Royal Parks and we consider events if it's practical to put them on, but at the moment in time, the answer is there's none planned.

Royal Parks have promised another briefing in September.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Greenwich Park, London 2012 Olympics

Greenwich Park hosts Olympic cross country event

July 30, 2012 By Greenwich.co.uk

AFTER years of argument and planning, Greenwich Park today witnessed the cross country stage of London 2012 Equestrian Eventing.

On the only day of the Olympics that the entire park was closed, 50,000 spectators watched on from busy vantage points along the course and from inside the temporary arena.

With millions watching on television, the sunny weather played its part to ensure that the venue looked stunning as cable cameras tracked high above Greenwich Park, first enclosed nearly 600 years ago.

It was a good day for Team GB, with three riders - including the Queen's granddaughter, Zara Phillips - completing the ride within the course time of 10m 3s.

The cross country stage follows two days of dressage in the temporary stadium where swathes of empty seats, in common with other venues, were witnessed on TV.

The venue was also hit by a lack of food supplies early within the sessions on Saturday and Sunday with many spectators taking to Twitter complaining they had nothing to eat and couldn't leave the venue and return.

A spokesperson for London 2012 told Greenwich.co.uk that "measures have been taken" in response to the food shortages.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Greenwich Park, London 2012 Olympics

Daily Photo: 22/07/2012 – Olympic Torch Relay in Greenwich

July 22, 2012 By Rob Powell

Sir Robin Knox Johnston

The Olympic Torch Relay completed its visit to the Royal Borough of Greenwich yesterday. Starting its journey behind the security fences of Greenwich Park, viewed by the accredited few, the flame emerged into public view in the Old Royal Naval College.

By the time it reached Cutty Sark Gardens, where crowds had been gathering in anticipation, it was being clutched by famed sailor Sir Robin Knox-Johnston as he completed a single-handed circumnavigation of the restored tea clipper.

A few seconds after appearing in view, the sprightly 73-year-old had disappeared again as he made his way down College Approach.

006
Crowds gathered to witness the Olympic Torch

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston is a trustee of the Cutty Sark Trust.

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Officers from HMS Ocean lined up beside the Cutty Sark as the Torch came past, and posed for photos after

The torch then continued on its tour of the borough.


Being carried up in Westcombe Hill - photo from Charlton Casual blog.


The torch at Kidbrooke Green - Pic: Kidbrooke Kite

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
The crowds came out on Eltham High Street - Pic: Nigel Fletcher.

P7214158
Jaco van Gass, who lost an arm serving in Helmand, led the King's Troop down Wellington Street. Pic: Nigel Fletcher

Filed Under: Daily Photo Tagged With: London 2012 Olympics

Greenwich cross country “jump zone” unveiled

July 17, 2012 By Rob Powell

Greenwich Park - Greenwich X-Country Furniture

LONDON 2012 organisers have unveiled the Greenwich-themed "jump zone" on the Olympic cross country course.

National and London landmarks will be the inspiration for the areas around the 40 jumps on the course, known as jump zones, and local school kids were last year invited to come up with designs for a Greenwich-themed jump zone.

Successful designs came from students at Joan Roan School, Alderwood Primary School, Timbercroft Primary School and Invicta Primary School. The plans were then turned into a plywood backdrop by students at Ravensbourne College and shown off for the first time this morning.

Double Olympic champion, Jonathan Edwards, said the sculpture was "brilliant" and offered a "super view" with Canary Wharf in the background behind it.

Greenwich Park - Greenwich X-Country Furniture
Local school kids and students from Ravensbourne pose in front of the jump zone.

Course designer Sue Benson told Greenwich.co.uk that the cross country course was "beyond my dreams."

"It's been brought together beautifully," she added. "There's masses of decoration to put in but the fences are all in their correct sites and they've all been measured to legal height. I'm really comfortable with it."

The cross country event will take place on July 30th.

Greenwich Park - Greenwich X-Country Furniture
Course designer Sue Benson with Jonathan Edwardes from London 2012.

Greenwich Park - Greenwich X-Country Furniture
London 2012 branding being hung around the temporary stadium

London 2012 chairman Seb Coe told journalists this morning that parts of Greenwich Park had been left "waterlogged" by recent rain.

 

Filed Under: News Tagged With: London 2012 Olympics

Daily Photo: 21/06/2012 – Equestrian Olympic stadium

June 21, 2012 By Greenwich.co.uk

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Photos of the London 2012 stadium in Greenwich Park that is being constructed for the staging of equestrian events.

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Filed Under: Daily Photo Tagged With: Greenwich Park, London 2012 Olympics

Surface-to-air missiles on Blackheath and the Navy’s biggest warship at Greenwich

May 4, 2012 By Rob Powell

Missiles on Blackheath HMS Ocean arriving in Greenwich

SURFACE-TO-AIR missiles have been set up on Blackheath and the Royal Navy's largest vessel has moored at Greenwich.

The stark images of militarisation will be broadcast around the world as the Navy and RAF prepare for this summer's Olympic games.

Rapier surface-to air-missiles, last used in the Falklands, have been set up on Blackheath - described by Air Vice-Marshall Stuart Atha as a "first class site".

The Starstreak High Velocity Missile system will also help protect London 2012 from potential airborne threats this summer.

They have been placed on Blackheath this weekend as the RAF continues to finalise plans to position the missiles in six sites in east London. Oxleas Meadow has also been selected as a location for the missile defence systems.

The missiles can offer protection spanning a five mile radius. Any decision to deploy the weapons, in the event of a threat in the airspace, will be taken at a "political level". Personnel operating the equipment will be based at the nearby Army Cadet Centre during London 2012.

The Royal Navy is also preparing for its role in protecting the capital and today brought the largest ship in its fleet, HMS Ocean, to Greenwich for a week of exercises.

The 200 metre long amphibious assault ship, nicknamed as the Mighty O, sailed up the Thames this morning, passing through the Thames Barrier just before eleven. After passing the O2 she was turned around and then pulled towards her mooring at Greenwich Reach.

Lynx helipcopters will be taking part in exercises from HMS Ocean over the weekend and next week exercises will take place on the river.

Greenwich borough residents will have the chance to go on board HMS Ocean on Monday - details available from the council website.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said:

"HMS Ocean's arrival in London on the River Thames today completes the build-up of military assets and personnel taking part in Exercise Olympic Guardian over the coming days which will test the role of the Armed Forces in keeping the Games safe and secure.

"The public will expect that we are ready and prepared in the unlikely event that any threat emerges. That is why Typhoon fast jets are stationed at RAF Northolt, ground-based air defences are being tested at sites across London, and helicopters and Royal Marines will be operating from HMS Ocean, the Royal Navy's largest ship, berthed at Greenwich.

Missiles on Blackheath

Missiles on Blackheath

HMS Ocean arriving in Greenwich

HMS Ocean arriving in Greenwich

HMS Ocean (146)
Photo: Daren Clarke

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Blackheath, HMS Ocean, London 2012 Olympics

Large shot put sculpture proposed at ORNC for London 2012

April 20, 2012 By Rob Powell

A GIANT shot put could be placed in the Old Royal Naval College this summer to mark the London 2012 Olympics.

The 3m sculpture would sit upon an "impact crater debris" plinth in front of the entrance to Discover Greenwich.

Planning permission for the public art has been applied for by Di Henry, the GLA Events and Cultural Campaigns Manager.

The huge shot put, also just known as the shot, would be there from July 1st until September 30th and would be "in honour of the Olympics," says the planning application.

The  shot put would be part of a series of large sporting monuments titled "Gift of the Gods". Other items to be placed across the capital include a 7m long javelin, a set of 3m long Union flag arrows and a 3m discus.

Update: 7th June 2012 - The sculpture's planning application was approved by the council.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: London 2012 Olympics, Old Royal Naval College

Olympic Torch Relay route through Greenwich revealed

March 19, 2012 By Rob Powell

FULL details of where you can see the Olympic Torch Relay when it arrives in Greenwich have been revealed.

The flame will start the SE10 leg of its journey in Greenwich Park on Saturday 21st July at 07:21.

It will be carried down to, and through, the newly built equestrian venue in the Park before crossing Romney Road in to the Old Royal Naval College. It will then visit the redeveloped Cutty Sark Gardens and then return to Romney Road to head east.

Torchbearers will carry it along Trafalgar Road and Woolwich Road before turning into Combedale Road and then Westcombe Hill.

Its journey will then take it on to Eltham and it will finish its three hour stint in the borough in Woolwich's General Gordon Square.

Councillor Chris Roberts, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said: “This announcement really brings the route to life and it will provide a unique chance for Greenwich residents to share in the excitement of the Olympic spirit as we mark the countdown to the 2012 Games.

It will also be a rare opportunity to support those inspirational Torchbearers who have been chosen to run with the Olympic Flame in the community.”

See the route in full here (via BBC)
See UK-wide route information here (via BBC)


View London 2012 Torch Relay - Royal Greenwich in a larger map

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Greenwich Park, London 2012 Olympics, Romney Road, Trafalgar Road, Woolwich Road

HMS Ocean at Greenwich during London 2012

December 16, 2011 By Rob Powell

GREENWICH will be at the forefront of protecting London during next Summer's Olympics, it has been revealed.

The Royal Navy's HMS Ocean will be moored at Greenwich and used for logistics support, accommodation and as a helicopter landing site. Puma and Lynx helicopters will operate from the "Mighty O" to support airspace security.

The announcement that the 200-metre-long amphibious assault ship would be berthed at Greenwich was made today by Defence Secretary, Philip Hammond.

He also revealed that 13,500 military personnel will be involved in ensuring the smooth running of London 2012. Mr Hammond said:

"I am proud to announce the role our Armed Forces will play in support of the police, LOCOG [London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games], and others, in delivering a safe and secure Games.

"The Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force between them will provide up to 13,500 personnel. Up to 7,500 of them will support the smooth running of Olympic sites, while the remainder will use their specialist capabilities and equipment to contribute to the delivery of Olympic security.

HMS Bulwark, a visitor to Greenwich earlier this year, will be offering support in Weymouth where Olympic sailing events will take place.

HMS Ocean's Christmas Video

Crew members on board HMS Ocean have become YouTube stars. A video of their military personnal performing Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas has been seen over 2 million times since it was posted earlier this month. Carey herself tweeted that it was the "best thing I've ever seen."

Filed Under: News Tagged With: London 2012 Olympics

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