Save Greenwich Park from Olympic Equestrian events in 2012 : Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers)

Frequently Asked Questions, and Answers

If you have a question that you would like us to answer, please e-mail reply@nogoe2012.com with "Q and A's in the subject line" and, if we think that others might like to know the answer as well, we'll add it to the following.

Why did the authorities include Greenwich Park in the original bid for the 2012 Olympics?: It is generally believed that the London bid was not expected to win. As a result, those preparing it not only quoted an unrealistically low cost figure but they also included all sorts of things that they were not able to deliver. Like the sailing ship Olympic Friend-ship which was to have spent four years travelling around the world carring "a cargo emblematic of the UK's cultural riches" Apart from the debate about the increase in the budget for the Games, the decision by the organisers to scrap the Olympic Friend-ship was a significant broken promise.; Stefan Szymanski, professor of economics at Cass Business School, City University London, said: They had not really planned a bid on the basis that it could win, which means they developed a blue-sky project without really thinking what it would cost and when the harsh realities set in they've had to chop and change quite severely.; As for Greenwich Park, the authorities did not consult local people nor - as the planning application makes plain - did they carry out any relevant background research or cost-benefit analysis prior to the Bid. In the Bid document, they even included a map of the Park drawn to the wrong scale, so making the Park look nearly twice as large as it really is. It was a political gimmick which they thought wouldn't matter because they wouldn't win.

Are you not just wasting time - surely it is a "done deal"?: No, not according to the Minister for the Olympics (Tessa Jowell) and Member of Parliament for Greenwich and Woolwich (Nick Raynsford).; During an edition of BBC Radio's "You and Yours", Tessa Jowell said, in response to a question from the interviewer (supplementary to a question from Michael Goldman), that the decision to hold equestrian events in Greenwich Park had been taken and that it was not going to be changed. She repeated that statement and went on to say that "[LOCOG] are proceeding to implement the plan". Michael Goldman then wrote to Tessa Jowell to challenge her statement. In her reply, dated 1 December 2009, the Minister said, "Please be assured that my remarks in no way pre-empt the planning process that the London Borough of Greenwich are undertaking. It is an important part of local democracy."; In an open letter from NOGOE Coordinator, John Hine, to Nick Raynsford, dated 4 December 2009 and published on www.greenwich.co.uk, John Hine said: "We have no doubt that strong pressures will be applied to members of the Council's Planning Board from a number of quarters to grant permission. However, in fairness to all whom you represent, may I ask that you make it clear to your constituents that no decision has been taken by the Council and that you will expect the Planning Board to approach their difficult task with their focus solely on the planning issues?"; Nick Raynsford replied as follows by letter dated 9 December 2009 (also published on www.greenwich.co.uk):; "With regards to the forthcoming planning decision, LOCOG will be required to make all aspects of the plan publicly available, as is the case for all planning applications. The application will have been made mindful of planning regulation and following public consultation. The council will consider the application based on those regulations and I hope that the debate, which will no doubt take place before the planning committee, will be well informed, based on evidence and will provide all interested parties the opportunity to have their say on an equal basis."; The Council knows that it will have to give the planning application the highest degree of scrutiny and deal with it strictly on planning grounds if it wishes to avoid a subsequent challenge. Please keep your objections coming in. You have a genuine chance to influence the result and, if you haven't written already, please e-mail planningapps@greenwich.gov.uk quoting 09/2598/F and 09/2599/L, with a copy to reply@nogoe2012.com. Find e-mail addresses for your three local councillors here

What is your alternative proposed site?: There are many places that would be better than Greenwich. For example: Windsor Great Park, Great Leighs, and Hickstead. In its Environmental Statement (in the planning application), LOCOG identifies several other possible sites as well, all of which could host the events. Windsor scores as highly as Greenwich except on closeness to Stratford but it is very close to the rowing events at Eton Dorney. If Windsor were chosen, alternative arrangements would have to be made for the equestrian element of the Modern Pentathlon but that should not present an insuperable difficulty. Any additional expense of hiring a convenient stadium for the Pentathlon could be set against the saving of the cost of building a suitable riding surface. Windsor already has one and LOCOG has not yet even decided the method of construction for Greenwich. In sum: Windsor already has a cross country course, it has an ideal area for dressage and show jumping, has its own beautiful "iconic backdrop" and a long history of successfully hosting equestrian events. The Olympic Rowing Lake at Dorney is just down the road.

What real harm would it do to the Park?: How long have you got? When the planning applications were made public in mid-December, it was immediately evident that the damage and destruction envisaged by LOCOG is far, far worse than even NOGOE thought it would be.

Surely Greenwich should be making a contribution to the Olympics?: Greenwich remains scheduled to host other events at the Dome and shooting at The Royal Artillery headquarters at Woolwich, so it will still have a major part to play as one of the Olympic Boroughs. If the equestrian events were moved to another venue, and the Park were kept open to the public as usual, it would be an ideal place for visitors to come to relax and be official London "Olympic Chill Out Zone" - there could be picnic tables and food stalls run by local cafes and restaurants and large TV screens so we could all watch any of the Olympic events free, and happily spend money in Greenwich or Blackheath on the way - no damage would be done; many more people could enjoy the Olympics, and it would be far more inclusive. It would cost next to nothing compared with the insane amount of money LOCOG want to throw at their current plan.

I understand the equestrian federations want Greenwich Park?: This is part of the problem. Individual equestrians are thought to be against holding the cross-country in Greenwich Park because it is too small and because of safety concerns about the tight turns on a steep course, but some have told us they do not wish to speak out in case it jeopardised their chances of selection for other international competitions in the meanwhile.