GREENWICH: Park Olympics plans under scrutiny (From News Shopper)

GREENWICH: Park Olympics plans under scrutiny

8:30am Wednesday 20th January 2010 in

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HIGHLY controversial plans for Olympic horse-riding in a royal park have come under scrutiny ahead of a council decision.

Greenwich Park is due to host the equestrian events and a planning application from the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) went in to Greenwich Council on November 30 last year.

An estimated 195,000 spectators will head to the historic park in 2012 to see dressage, cross-country riding, paralympic events and a modern pentathlon.

Campaign group NOGOE (No to Greenwich Olympic Equestrian Events), held a meeting on Sunday (Jan 17) at John Roan School, Maze Hill, to discuss the proposals.

The meeting, attended by more than 200 people, featured displays of the application’s key points and a mock-up of the park’s planned 2.7m high perimeter fencing.

Group coordinator John Hine said: “The meeting was open to everyone and, contrary to what LOCOG may say, it was clear from questions and comments that the overwhelming majority of local residents are against the use of Greenwich Park for the Olympics.”

The group, which has already organised a 13,200 signature petition against the event, says people were mainly concerned about possible damage to the World Heritage Site and the size of the planned 23,000-seat temporary stadium.

NOGOE has also renewed claims that the proposed use of Blackheath’s Circus Field as a compound is illegal, breaking a 19th century law against enclosure of the heath - something LOCOG denies.

Community group the Greenwich Society has urged the council to only provide outline consent, with a further detailed application and public consultation to follow.

In an official response, the group claims there is “a paucity of essential detail” on issues like the design of the arena, the impact of a test event next year and the grassland management programme.

And the society has raised major concerns over the effect on transport, saying it “seems to have been made in a vacuum without reference to the day to day lives and transport needs of residents”.

A council decision on the planning application is expected in March.