A London borough councillor has been appointed as the new chairman of three 2012 Olympic venues.

Paul Osborn was selected to takeover as the new leader of the 10,000 acre Lee Valley Regional Park on Tuesday (August 25).

The London Borough of Harrow councillor will now lead the organisation which owns Lee Valley VeloPark and Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, and Lee Valley White Water Centre in Waltham Abbey.

Cllr Osborn will also be in charge of a string of sports and leisure visitor destinations, nature reserves, gardens, heritage sites and riverside trails after taking over from Derrick Ashley, who will now serve as Vice-Chairman.

He said: “It’s an enormous honour to be appointed Chairman of Lee Valley Regional Park Authority.

"Since its creation back in the 1960s, we have transformed thousands of acres of neglected land and industrial sites into a hugely popular visitor destination with six million visits a year.

“The Authority is playing a major role delivering a legacy from the London 2012 Games and is entering an exciting new chapter as we hand over the day-to-day operations of 14 of our venues to Vibrant Partnerships.

“Derrick has steered the organisation through key moments, in particular, ensuring legacy was at the heart of the London 2012 venues that the Authority owns.

"He was also heavily involved in the restoration of Myddelton House Gardens in Enfield, through a two year Heritage Lottery Fund project and now has a very popular Visitor Centre and museum.”