Greenwich 2012

I feel like I am sitting on the fence over the planned use of Greenwich Park for the Equestrian events at London 2012. I want to see my borough involved in the Olympics but I would resent it if we lost the use of the park for too long and especially if irreparable damage was done as a result. The proposed use of Woolwich for the shooting seems less controversial as it is unlikely to attract the numbers of spectators or require the sort physical changes around the Barracks that may be permanent.

Greenwich Park; it would appear that the temporary stadium (housing 23,000 spectators) and main event venue for the show-jumping will be built around the natural ampitheatre that is the "meadow" that runs down from General Wolfe's statue to Queen Anne's House, part of the National Maritime museum. This is the reason for choosing Greenwich Park because it gives the backdrop shot of London 2012 - the iconic shot of Queen Anne's House in the foreground shadowed by the towers of Canary Wharf. I'm not sure what else the events will need apart from the out-lying course which, presumably, won't do any long-term damage to the park but the associated affects on life in Greenwich is what looks to be ratting the anti-brigade. The foot tunnel at Greenwich will be closed for months for a face-lift prior to the event and there will be months of disruption on Greenwich's critical roads in the lead-up to the games. The well-organised and vocal west Greenwich community has mounted a protest against the scale of the plans with local journo, Andrew Gilligan, prominent. They have impressive numbers of petitioners but they can only really hope for small victories in this war.

I was out running yesterday when I saw a tree being felled (pictured) in front of the Maritime Museum, which I understand is the beginning of the work to put an access road in front of the museum in order to reach the "meadow" without taking trees out in the park between the main gates at King William Walk and the "meadow." I had to smile when I heard one of the organisers saying last night on the news that "our plans don't involve the cutting down of any trees."

By contrast, the less well-organised and less-vocal residents of SE18 aren't mounting anything like as effective a campaign against the use of the Royal Arsenal Barracks. The organisers have been forced into a temporary re-think involving the existing Bisley range or even a new site at Barking Reach, but after due haste, quickly dismissed those and have re-focused on Woolwich. The Barracks will provide a splendid background for the shooting and the connection with firearms is entirely appropriate. Woolwich has been degenerating for fifty years and surely we shouldn't be looking to prevent it having a week or two in the sunshine?

I have long advocated the building of a "Charlton Wall" from the river to Shooters Hill, but I guess the more realistic hopes for the residents of Greenwich is genuine renegeration of the once-proud Woolwich. On top of the river developments at the old Arsenal site, the Olympics might offer hope of more to come, even if not directly as a result of the shooting itself?

Come what may, I know I would feel sore and like a pariah if the games came to the Capital and south (east) London was again ignored completely like we are a part of London the Cogniscenti would rather not acknowledge. Having said that, the Games are being stage in our poor sister's backyard in East London, so perhaps we should be grateful for small mercies.