Save Hackney Marshes! London must not get the Olympics!
You want something disgraceful from the London Olympics bid? How about the plan to concrete over Hackney Marshes, immortalised in the Nike advert which used Blur’s “Parklife” as the soundtrack, in order to provide a car and coach park? That’s right - the huge expanse of green, used for Sunday football by hundreds of people, and exercise by thousands more, turned into an environmental eyesore. The Independent has the story (though it will probably disappear soon behind a paywall. And Hackney Marshes wasn’t in the Parklife video, to my recollection.)
Read it over at LB Hackney - Olympics - Environment:
“the Olympic plans include coach parks for vehicles required to provide a service between Olympic facilities and other locations. The coach park sites have been chosen to provide end points from major arterial routes in and around London. The Olympics plans show three temporary drop-off points for use by coaches, disability access and cycle parks.”
“The proposal to put one of these drop-off points on East Marsh at Hackney Marshes has caused local concern.” (Putting it mildly - CA.) “Residents, sports and other users face the loss of the use of East Marsh for an estimated twelve months in 2012.” (But just wait until you hear what happens for the six years before that:) “Consideration has been given to offsetting the loss of East Marsh during the estimated 12 month period. It has been agreed in principle to re-locate the existing pitches on East Marsh, to upgrade pitches on the main Marsh and Mabley Green, and to upgrade the existing pitches on East Marsh potentially as early as 2006.”
2006? That’s only a year away. This bid must fail. I already hate the idea of London hosting the Olympics: if it’s going to upgrade the infrastructure, why did we need a sports event to make it happen? It’ll leave the city hugely indebted (the Games always do), and won’t really provide the sort of facilities that allow up-and-coming athletes need - which is a wide variety of sports facilities. The really good will soon excel and can then be picked to compete and train at a higher level, at better facilities which don’t have to be in London. Plus what about the adults? Aren’t we trying to keep them fit, to avoid the Evil Of Obesity? Spend this ridiculous money on something more useful.
To return to Hackney’s website:
“The bid’s stated intention is that immediately after the 2012 Olympic Games, East Marsh would be restored back to playing fields as it currently is with the addition of new facilities.” (And how long would that take? Just wondering, since it isn’t specified.) It is also proposed that a pedestrian land bridge will be built to connect East Marsh to the Olympic Precinct during the Games which shall be retained as a legacy for Hackney and Waltham Forest. These are minimum legacy requirement… The existing Arena Fields will be used during the period of the Games. After the Games it is planned that 18% of the original land area will be replaced in the current location. To compensate for this loss open space will be provided 200m to the east of the existing Arena Fields. This open space will integrate with a large continuous riverside park that will link Hackney with the Thames River. The amount of open space within Hackney will significantly increase (almost double in fact) as a result of this new open space.”
Well, I’d believe that if I saw it. But all I can foresee is a big, soulless car park stretching where there used to be grass breathing..
- These posts might be related (the database thinks..):
- London wins Olympics: and now interviewers start saying "Yes, but.." (6 July 2005; score: 131.77%)
- The athletic Iraq: why the Olympics make me feel like Cassandra (29 November 2006; score: 63.41%)
- Ever wondered why you don't see any ads against the Olympics? (17 June 2005; score: 60.07%)
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