Noel is urging the Mayor, the Government and London 2012 to make clearer guarantees to Londoners on benefits to transport after the Olympics.
Noel said, “Londoners have been promised that these Olympics will improve our transport and be the most sustainable bid ever. But as yet there is no new infrastructure or services confirmed as part of the bid. It may seem early to be expecting definite plans, but we have all learnt how long transport improvements can take from the East London Line.”
The Greens’ biggest concern about the Olympic bid is the transport implications. The peak transport demand of 90,000 people in an hour into the Olympic zone in the Lea Valley is 40% of services including the increases already planned for 2012. Transport for London is looking at what existing transport could be improved, for example increasing services on the North London Line up from 4 to 10 trains an hour.
Noel believes that these improvements need to be firm commitments so that local people can judge whether having the Olympics will improve their area before the bid is submitted, instead of leaving it to trust.
Noel stated, “There are some possibilities of changes that could make a big difference to East Londoners, such dramatic improvements to the North London Line. If the government put the resources behind this so there can be a real guarantee of improvement, Londoners would be a lot less sceptical. London’s transport system clearly cannot cope with current nor expected demand from Londoners. How will it possibly cope with the expected 1 million extra trips a day without major new investment? Promises need to be made now and be promises that will be kept.”
The Green Party Group want guarantees that:
· Transport during the games will be environmentally friendly and of benefit to all
· There will be a positive transport legacy for London and particularly East London
· There will be specific improvements in the sustainability of transport due to the Olympics
Noel added, “The Games will be hugely expensive and the bid must ensure the Olympics deliver value for money – no easy task. We will be ensuring that these promises are not just hot air so that these really will be the most sustainable games ever. “
ENDS
NOTES FOR EDITORS
Noel Lynch is a member of the London Assembly Culture, Sport and Tourism Committee which has investigated the proposals for the Olympic bid.