British Cycling's Response to latest Olympic Delivery Authority Planning Committee Meeting

 

News Posted: 17 August 2007

 

British Cycling has welcomed the outcome of the latest Olympic Delivery Authority Planning Committee Meeting on Tuesday (14th August), at Stratford Circus, East London, attended by many interested parties, including British Cycling's Chief Executive Peter King, local officials and legal representatives.

This was a very important meeting for the provision of cycling facilities and for the future of cycle sport within the Legacy Olympic Park (i.e. what will be created as a lasting sports legacy after the Games are over). The meeting went on for some 6 hours and represented a detailed examination of the two planning applications currently being promoted by the ODA.

Under the general title of 'Olympic, Paralympic and Legacy Planning Applications' the ODA brought forward two separate applications for consideration and approval. These were the "Olympic and Legacy Facilities Application" (an outline application) and the "Site Preparation Full Planning Application".

The ODA gave repeated and firm assurances that the Legacy cycling facilities proposed in plans, first published in February this year, were not set in stone and could be changed and that nothing being approved at this stage would prevent a much more generous provision of land within the Park for cycle sport (particularly off-road circuits).

In a prepared speech, Vivienne Ramsey, ODA Head of Development Control, stated that the current applications did not determine a specific length of any circuit and that the ultimate cycling facility Legacy would be decided as part of the detailed design phase, which would be completed by the end of 2009. Ms Ramsey confirmed and stressed that 'great importance' would be attached to the views of 'National Cycling Bodies and the EUG' which were to be solicited as part of the consultation on the detailed design.

It was confirmed that the current application for permission in relation to Legacy facilities is in outline only and the indicative proposals set out at this time could change in the future.

Shaun Dawson, CEO of the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority confirmed that after the Games the LVRPA would own and fund the VeloPark which he said would cater for approximately 100,000 cycle visits per year. Mr Dawson suggested that the VeloPark would bring together the cycling disciplines of Road, MTB, Track and BMX in a unique way catering for all cyclists from families through to elite competitors.

Following the prepared statements, the Committee questioned the Planning Team on the issue of Legacy cycling facilities. They were asked why there was not more land available for cyclists and why the plans could not provide for a greater area than the indicative 7 hectares and something close to the aspirations of local cycling groups. The Committee also pointed out that the reason why the amount of space available for cycling was so constrained was to do with the amount of land being set aside for development and eventual sale. One Committee member was explicit in condemning the compromise that meant cycling got less land as a result of the desire to secure a financial return from the sale of houses after the games. He said that the ODA seemed to have got its priorities wrong and that the Olympic Legacy should be about excellent sports facilities not development and that it was a shame not to make the cycling facilities as good as they could be "for the sake of a few 100,000 pounds".

As a result of this debate it was agreed that the detailed plans for Legacy cycling facilities would be brought forward for consideration by the Committee before any detailed planning permission could be given for the Legacy development of the land south of the VeloPark (i.e. the land proposed to be set aside for development and ultimate sale).

The message to the ODA was clear: there must be an improvement of the provision and that the Committee was not in favour of compromising sports facilities for cash.

The issue of the Hog Hill facility's role as a possible permanent facility in Legacy was also discussed. It was agreed that, as no funding was in place as yet for this facility, a decision would need to be taken at a later date as to whether and to what extent Hog Hill could be viewed as a replacement or additional legacy benefit.

The ODA were clear throughout discussions of this issue that if Hog Hill is established as a permanent facility it should be counted as a Legacy cycling facility and set against any potential loss of space at the former Eastway site. However in response to direct questioning from the Committee, the ODA confirmed that, with or without Hog Hill, there would be off-road provision within the VeloPark. Clearly the ODA will seek to justify a reduced off-road facility within the Olympic Park if Hog Hill is retained in Legacy.

The Committee pointed out that the problem with Hog Hill is not just the uncertainty over funding but the fact that it is in Redbridge and a significant distance from the Olympic Park.

The ODA were repeatedly questioned by the Committee as to whether or not, if the current applications were approved, there would still be sufficient flexibility for the subsequent plans to make greater provision and space for cycling facilities. In direct response to this questioning, Vivienne Ramsey stated that the cycling facilities were "not necessarily that size or that configuration or in that place" and it was confirmed by another ODA representative that the exact specification was "up for grabs".

British Cycling's Chief Executive said after the meeting:

"We are pleased with the outcome of this meeting which means that there is plenty of scope for an improved cycling plan to be worked out with the ODA. The ODA have been told, in effect, that the current proposals are not satisfactory. The Committee clearly took onboard all the comments of British Cycling in its 15th June objection, as to the inadequacy and inequity of the current ODA proposals. There is much work to be done to secure an acceptable Legacy for cycling on the site of the former Eastway, but British Cycling and its partners are determined to continue to fight for this."