WALTHAMSTOW: Concern over Olympic campsite plan (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

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WALTHAMSTOW: Concern over Olympic campsite plan

4:42pm Friday 13th January 2012 in Waltham Forest News By Daniel Binns

WALTHAMSTOW: Concern over Olympic campsite plan

RESIDENTS have expressed concern over plans to turn a sports field into a 5,000 capacity campsite during the Olympics.

The council has suddenly announced it is renting out Low Hall Sports Ground in Walthamstow for around three weeks during July and August to help fund its 'Big 6' events to celebrate the Games.

Big Events Camping Ltd, which will run the site, claims it will be the “largest campsite London has seen” and will feature food stalls, a 140 metre bar, and a stage with live entertainment.

But neighbours fear massive disruption and have accused the firm of factual inaccuracies on its advertising.

The official website for the campsite claims it is a five minute shuttle bus journey from the Olympic Park in Stratford, and also originally claimed that Walthamstow was "resplendent with large multi-cultural markets [and] movie cinemas” - although this was later removed following complaints.

Diane Hackney, 52, of nearby Clacton Road, said: “We're very concerned about the noise and the parking. We don't have a controlled parking zone here and there's no parking at the campsite, so it will be a nightmare.

“The organisers are encouraging people to come by bus but I can't see many people squeezing onto the W19 with all their camping gear.

“We don't want visitors to the Olympics to come away with a negative experience of Waltham Forest – but the promotion doesn't say that the site is next to a busy train line, a bread factory and the water treatment works. And it's not five minutes from the Olympic Park.”

Mark Knox, 40, of Marconi Road in Leyton, said: “There hasn't been any consultation with the public on this and it's clear that an extra 5,000 people coming here will have a huge impact on the Lea Bridge Road area.”

Related links

WALTHAMSTOW: Campsite plan to pay for 'Big 6'

Denis Geary, managing director of Big Events Camping Ltd, said he thought only a small minority of “uninformed” residents were opposed.

He insisted that the shuttle bus would take only five minutes but revealed it would drop campers in Ruckholt Road, Leyton, requiring them to walk the final stretch to the Olympic Park.

He said: “All the music will stop at 9pm to minimise disturbance and I want to meet with residents to discuss the plans.

“I think Walthamstow is a nice place and it'll be a great place for people who want to come here and enjoy the Olympics.”

He said the campsite did not need planning permission but did need a licence, which had “nearly” been finalised.

Sporting facilities such as cricket and football pitches on the land will be unavailable between late July and September, although the council has pledged to help relocate affected clubs.

The council expects to make around £2million in extra revenue from the Games, with potentially £1.5million of that being spent on the 'Big 6'.

The planned campsite will have capacity for around 5,000 campers plus up to 5,000 visitors per day.

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Comments(27)

EastEndLass says...
4:59pm Fri 13 Jan 12

The reason that Mr Geary believes there are a number of "uninformed residents" is due to the fact that NO residents appear to have been informed about this until this week!

It is hardly surprising that we are concerned about it, especially as BCE Ltd's dire use of social networking has been to ignore and then DELETE all questions directed to them by rather surprised and concerned locals and accuse them of being malicious.