Following earlier extraordinary legal decisions, including the acquittal of PC Harwood and the ruling in the High Court that pre-emptive arrests were not unlawful, comes the news that Save Leyton Marsh's application for judicial review of the planning permission for the Basketball Training facility had been thrown out without the applicants even knowing it had been heard. Even more extraordinary was the fact that the ODA had taken over the defence from Waltham Forest, even though it was not the defendant and it had not granted the planning permission. And as if that was not enough the ODA, using public funds of £40million to defend itself, applied for and has been granted an order for costs of £20,142.96, and another £4,140.00 for Waltham Forest, against the Save Leyton Marsh campaigners!

The former Arena Field, site of the Media Centre, in 2008

Runners are sent ahead to drum up excitement; the circus rolls into town, and the people pay. Show over and profits taken, the circus pulls out, leaving behind mere memories and mess.

The five ring circus works on similar lines over a longer eight-year timescale. Why did London agree to host this circus? The time to reject a London Olympics was during the bid stage

My piece in Occupied Times 15 'In Search Of Legacies Lost' will soon appear here, fully referenced (at time of writing it remains embargoed).

Preparations for final lockdown: A security guard looks out from the bridge. A razorwire-topped barrier-cum-landing stage spans the river beneath. View from Lea Navigation towpath bridge over the Old River Lee, 25/06/2012

Earlier reports of the closure of the London Fields Lido seem to have been exaggerated. According to Hackney an agreement was signed to allow the American Paralympic swimming team to use the pool 'for a few hours a day'. The website says the deal will mean 'local people can look forward to seeing Paralympic swimmers train and children of all abilities will receive coaching from top international athletes' and Hackney will receive various pieces of 'Olympic and Paralympic memorabilia' for its London 2012 archive.

Anyone whose experience of ODA 'drop-in' style consultations has been one of bitter frustration and disappointment might enjoy letting this 2-hour recording play in the background.

This video arrives via Paul Norman's Olympic blog. On September 28 2011 he chaired a debate at the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation's annual meeting. He says:

Steam Roller on Sandy Lane Leyton Marshes: the machine of choice for the ODA