Holding the Equestrian Olympics in Greenwich Park is a bad idea, and it may never have got off the ground if the bid company: a) had not over-estimated the size of the Park; b) had carried out rudimentary environmental research; and c) had done a cost-benefit analysis against comparative sites.

Having won the bid, the organiser, LOCOG, is determined to go through with its plans despite the problems posed by holding such a major event in a fragile World Heritage Site. Its determination is rooted in the fact that equestrian is in decline; an iconic setting in an urban location might help to promote it, and the International Equestrian Federation has made it clear that, if Greenwich Park is not used, then the prospects for the sport in future Olympics are in peril. Hence the pressure to take risks.

NOGOE (No to Greenwich Olympic Equestrian Events) was formed 18 months ago because of frustration at the lack of information and objective assessment of this choice of venue. The basis of the opposition case, based on opinions from equestrian and environmental advisers, is that the Park is too small and unsuitable for this event. Substantial reports have been written, and delivered to the decision makers, about the negative impact in terms of the damage and disruption that will be caused. The NOGOE Report also included an economic assessment by one of the country’s leading economists, who maintains that savings of as much as £50 million could be made if the main events were moved to an existing equestrian venue, and a stadium in East London used for the Modern Pentathlon. LOCOG, meanwhile, continues to try to justify the unjustifiable.

NOGOE also funded the making of a film, Saving Greenwich Park, which is available to view on YouTube. There are links to the film on www.nogoe2012.com .  Part 1 illustrates the social deprivation that will result from confirmed total closure of the Park for 4 weeks in 2012; and also the negative impact on the local economy. Part 2 reveals startling evidence of the dangers inherent in the use of the Park for such an event.

ECOLOGY AND ARCHAEOLOGY AT RISK

We are told that English Heritage and the Royal Parks would not allow activities that would put the buried historical environment of the Park in jeopardy but we are not convinced that they have the power to prevent them. They appear to have settled for a series of compromises.

An example of the compromises that have been made is in the route for the equestrian cross country event. This crosses the area between the Roman temple and the Flower Gardens three times although both LOCOG and English Heritage are aware that there is evidence of Roman structures lying immediately under the turf. The potential for further accidental discovery of buried features is high and ground disturbance may bring further evidence to light. Indeed NOGOE is aware of an area where structural remains are being revealed by ordinary erosion, proving that anything can turn up at any time in this Park.

We are unconvinced by promises that the turf will be strengthened to prevent penetration since this is dry acid grassland and has protected status. It encourages bio-diversity and the government is signed up to enhancing bio-diversity in London. Attempts to strengthen it by irrigation, as is being proposed, are likely to result in its deterioration. Greenwich Park contains one of the last remnants in the borough of this once widespread natural grassland which cannot be reinstated once damaged.

The 6th-7th century Saxon barrows on the western side of the Park have been skirted by the cross country route but no provision has been made to secure them from erosion under the feet of massed spectators.  This is another area of rare acid grassland that should be protected from fertilisation or undue irrigation and cannot therefore be ‘strengthened’.

 Both Roman and Saxon sites are important enough to have Scheduled Ancient Monument status and deserve the highest levels of protection.

There is also the issue of protected species of wildlife - bats, owls, insects and stag beetles. How will they be affected? Bats’ radar could be damaged by modern security devices; artificial lighting could affect insects. There appears to be no survey done on the stag beetles and the bat survey was done at the wrong time - when only ‘stragglers’ would have been present.

The Danger posed by the Underground Conduits.

The conduits or tunnels under the Park were built in the early18th Century but there is also likelihood of earlier Tudor and Medieval conduits . LOCOG says that it is aware of the conduits and the course is designed around them. Dr. Per von Scheibner probably knows more than anyone else about these tunnels, having made a study of them, and been down some of the them 15 years ago using access points which are only lightly covered over. His conclusion is, “They’re pushing their luck”. The weight of a horse and rider landing on two legs is similar to driving a pole into the ground. He says the important point is that no one knows where all the conduits are nor where the air shafts (access points) are. So how can a track be designed around them? Is this scare-mongering?  It’s quite possible that there may be no access points on the cross country course but the jumps pose a special danger from the exceptionally high density of foot traffic gathering around them.

NOGOE feels that, although no holes in the ground have emerged within the Park, there is a history of this activity in adjacent roads (Blackheath Hill, Crooms Hill) and might only pose a small risk to public safety but, along with other risks mentioned, the choice of an Olympic venue should not be based on chance.

The Economic Argument

Greenwich is a host borough for several Olympic events and there is no doubt that investments will result from this, particularly in sporting activities. There will be excitement and pride that the Olympics are coming to a relatively deprived area. However all this is not dependent on one event taking place in Greenwich Park. There is a huge cost attached to using the Park location (reported in Evening Standard to be an estimated £42 million). This is an obscene amount given that the facilities would be dismantled after the events. NOGOE has established that it would be cheaper to stage these events in existing venues, not least because of higher security costs in the Park, repairing environmental damage and compensating the Maritime Museum for loss of income during closures. Moreover there is also a social cost to closing the Park, and a cost to the economy from traffic congestion which would be higher in a densely populated urban area (lane closure of the Blackwall Tunnel and the A2 for the Olympic family to speed through, even for a short while, would result in gridlock in SE London for the 16 days of events). All these costs would add up to a staggering £50m.

It is an accepted fact that tourist areas experience a decline when big events take place. Greenwich attracts 9 millions visitors (the Park alone attracts 4 million visits a year); and the closure of a large part of the popular lower Greenwich Park for 6 months, not to mention the whole Park for 4 weeks, would result in fewer weekend visitors, to the detriment of local businesses that rely on day-trippers. This is all before the effects of the “Clean Venue Policy” which is a series of draconian measures (like no market stalls; no pavement cafes; no “Olympic Offers”) which are taken to protect the advertising and marketing rights of the Olympic sponsors.

What about a legacy from the Olympics?  If the equestrian events were to take place in an existing venue, they could build the facilities for the Olympics and then only take down what is unsustainable, thus ensuring a legacy for the sport. If they use Greenwich Park, all the facilities would have to be built from scratch (including the levelling of the stadium arena) and then taken down. LOCOG says that holding the events here will encourage urban riding, as if ordinary people could afford  to take up the sport. The real legacy? Well, they are discussing upgrading the children’s playground with one of the jumps. Some legacy, unless you also count permanent damage to the fabric of the Park!

Legal Issues   

NOGOE has been in correspondence with the DCMS about the fact that Royal Parks has no legal right to close Greenwich Park for these events.

LOCOG is also proposing to use Circus Field on Blackheath for stabling, training and services. Building a compound on Blackheath would be unlawful as two NOGOE supporters have claimed since they discovered the existence of the Metropolitan Commons Act 1866 and the Scheme for Blackheath under the Metropolitan Supplemental Act 1871 prohibiting any enclosure to be allowed or entertained. LOCOG has stated that they are seeking necessary permissions. But how can one obtain permission to do something unlawful?

Are protesters just being Nimby-ish?

If the back yard in question is a World Heritage Site, is it not worth protecting?

If closures of this ‘green oasis’ for 4 weeks in the summer holidays result in ordinary people, many without gardens, being deprived of  daily exercise because there is no alternative, is that not a cause worth fighting for?

If local businesses suffer, while multi national sponsors rake it in, is that fair?

If commuters and local residents can’t go about their daily lives because of congestion on the roads and transport system, are they being mean-spirited?

And what about security for the houses that border the Park on three sides, many backing on to the Park; have they no reason to be concerned?

If the Games are going to be so marvellous for the area then, contrary to being nimbys, we are extremely generous to offer them to another area - like Windsor, which also has iconic views.

The Planning Application  

This massive document (3000 pages long) was lodged on 30 November. At first glance it’s a shocker: damage and disruption would be far worse than even NOGOE had imagined.  A strong objection to these plans is being prepared by NOGOE and will be submitted before the closing date of 27 January. Here are some of the initial statements made in the Application:

Environmental Damage:

• Levelling of site of Le Notre’s parterre to build a 23,000-seat arena (soil to a depth of 450mm likely to be removed)
• Pruning of 72 trees for height clearance
• Preparation of track for cross-country course (more than 10% of the Park) will require spiking the ground, seeding, fertilisation and irrigation system; this will leave a long term scar on the grassland
• Digging up of rare acid grasslands (replacement scheduled for 2015)
• Threat to endangered and protected species
• Risk to ancient trees (oldest living things in London), particularly from contractors       and spectators
• Stabling for 250 horses requiring food, water and electricity supplies and removal of      waste
• Electricity and water supplies to temporary structures throughout the Park- toilets,     media centre, etc.

Archaeology:

• Risk of PERMANENT DAMAGE to important archaeological sites (prehistoric, Roman, Saxon, mediaeval, Tudor, 17th and 18th century) by this TEMPORARY EVENT

Social and economic effects:

• Closure of Park (in whole or in part) for lengthy periods in 2011 and 2012
• Areas of the Park out of bounds from 2010 (start of preparation of the cross-country track) until at least 2015 (to complete restoration of acid grassland areas)
• Massive road disruption and congestion
• Loss of trade for local businesses
• Massive disturbance from construction traffic
• Installation of 2.7 metre (9 ft) security fence with lights and CCTV cameras around the Park perimeter

Costs:

• Organising Committee claims to be using private finance but any loss is underwritten by taxpayers
• Secrecy around the true cost, but reported to be £42 million

Health and safety:

• Competitors, horses and the public at risk from possible subsidence of uncharted underground tunnels and conduits
• LOCOG have not shown how 50,000 spectators can be safely accommodated in the Park for the cross-country

Circus Field:

• Now to be used (new proposal) and LOCOG could seek to take more of Blackheath Common

Legal aspects:

• Metropolitan Commons Act prohibits use of Circus Field
• Royal Parks have no power to close the Park

Legacy:

• ???

Objections to the Council can be sent by post or e-mail (we recommend the latter) quoting the Application Numbers which are 09/2598/F and 09/2599/L

E-mails should be sent to planningapps@greenwich.gov.uk.  Letters should be addressed to Greenwich Council (comments on applications), Planning Department, Crown Building, 5th Floor, 48 Woolwich New Road, London SE18 6HQ (or fax to 0208-921-5442)

Please note that e-mails and letters should include the full name and address of the objector.  All objections must be received by the Council not later than 27th January 2010                

Copies of the planning application can be inspected at the East Greenwich Library, Woolwich Road, the Blackheath Library in Old Dover Road, or downloaded from the Greenwich Council website.  If you need further information or assistance please contact www.nogoe2012.com or 020 8293 4103

Conclusion

The local community is divided on this issue. People who object have signed a protest, and over 13500 signatures have been delivered to Downing Street and other locations. NOGOE is holding a PUBLIC MEETING on 17 January in order to raise awareness of the negative impacts these events will have. Please read the January Newsletter posted on our website: www.nogoe2012.com .

The fabric of the Park would be put in danger and LOCOG seems to be prepared to trade off risk against its absolute determination to hold these events in Greenwich Park.

In the end it comes down to whether we are happy to suffer damage to heritage features for the sake of an Olympic event which could easily be held elsewhere.

NOGOE 07/01/2010