Residents see Greenwich Park Olympic plans (From News Shopper)

Residents see Greenwich Park Olympic plans

1:59pm Wednesday 26th November 2008 in

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OLYMPIC organisers have shown their plans to residents following concerns that horse riding events will damage a historic park.

Equestrian events will be held at Greenwich Park over a two-week period during the 2012 Olympics.

Concerns have been raised about the one-day cross country event which will see around 75 horses riding one by one around a four mile course.

It is expected the event will see the park close for up to two months from July 2012.

Competition organiser Tim Hadaway told News Shopper: “I totally understand and appreciate how people feel about this park. It’s a fantastic park that’s why we’re so keen to use it.”

A provisional plan of the course went on show at the park Pavilion Tea Rooms on November 21 and November 22.

Course designer and ex-rider Sue Benson has planned the event around iconic landmarks like the park bandstand and Royal Observatory.

But Mr Hadaway said it was increasingly unlikely the course would utilise the pond and denied horses would be going through the flower gardens, another concern of residents.

He also stressed that the only effect on trees would be trimming of low level branches and work on some of the older ones.

He said: “That work is going on around the park month in month out anyway.”

On November 19 the Olympic Board endorsed a cost-saving review by financial consultants KPMG which recommended equestrian events should go ahead at the park.

Planning permission will be sought late next year with a timetable of park closures published beforehand.

This is despite an online petition organised by campaign group NOGOE (No to Greenwich Olympic Equestrian Events) to get the cross country event moved to another site, which has been signed by 2,772 people.

Group chairman Michael Goldman said he was planning to mail out leaflets explaining why the cross country event should be held elsewhere.

Anyone interested in attending must register in advance at greenwicholympics.cvent.com/meeting