Today there were celebrations at Leyton Marshes as work to restore the marsh after its use during the Olympics as a basketball practice site draws to an end.
Islington Green Caroline Allen with Save Leyton Marsh campaigners today
celebrating return of the marsh to the community
(Image: http://carolineallengreenlondon.blogspot.co.uk/)
Green Party members today joined campaign group “Save Leyton Marsh” to mark the return of the marsh following its use during the Olympics as the site of a basketball practice court.
Earlier in the year members of Islington, Hackney and Waltham Forest Green Parties as well as the Occupy movement joined local protest against the use of the marshes for the Olympics. Residents expressed concern that the courts bordered a Site of Special Scientific Interest and that building a temporary structure on the marshes would not lead to the long lasting Oympic legacy for the community that a structure elsewhere would have provided. Residents and local campaigners were also outraged by failures in the planning application which saw digging take place to over 3 times the depth that had been initially agreed.
The Save Leyton Marsh campaign group were shocked when apparently peaceful protest led to an injunction being placed on 6 protesters. Speaking on their website, the group said:
“We have learned that because the purpose of this shameful destruction of our green fields is the London 2012 Olympic Games, we are not free to object, protest or campaign as we should be.”
On her blog, Islington Green Caroline Allen, who spoke at celebrations today, commented:
“This campaign has certainly shown the passion of local people to protect their green space and the great value they place on it..unfortunately the Government don’t see it the same way and recent legislation weakens the protection for a lot of undeveloped land, in the misguided view that the only way to get the economy is going is a dash for unsustainable growth at any cost.”
The marshes are due to be restored to public use on Monday.