Greenwich Olympic equestrian events approved
25th March 2010
Greenwich Royal Park will host the equestrian events at the London 2012 Olympics, despite opposition from some local residents. Councillors approved the plans at a five-hour meeting at Greenwich Town Hall late on Tuesday.
More than 30 people objected to the plans to hold the games at the Royal Park, saying it would damage the site.
London 2012 chair Lord Coe said he made no "no apologies" for wanting to use the "beautiful park" as a venue.
Lord Coe said: "I think that the opportunity to showcase one of the most beautiful parks in the world and to be at the centre of one of the greatest sporting events is a good thing.
"With it is the opportunity to allow young people to take up sport and to see something at a local level that might just change their ambitions - I make no apology for that.
"If that can mean using your wonderful park then I support that. "
Historic artefacts
Lord Coe urged Greenwich residents to "trust us that we will protect the park and return it to the condition that we received it".
All the structures built for the Olympics in Greenwich, including a 23,000-seat arena, would be temporary and removed, according to Lord Coe.
More than 30 speakers, who opposed the plans, took an hour and 40 minutes at the meeting to make their arguments known.
They said they feared historic artefacts would be disturbed and the habitat of bats would be interfered with.
Jill Butler, of the Woodland Trust, said the Olympic plans would damage trees in the park, including some sweet chestnut trees which were up to 300 years old.
One resident described the Olympics as a "virtual takeover of our Royal Park for two years" and said the equestrian events should be staged at traditional riding venues such as Windsor.
Speakers also argued that the congestion caused by spectators getting to the venue would be "unbearable" and that residents would prefer to spend the summer enjoying the park rather that hosting the Olympics.
The Olympic equestrian and modern pentathlon events are set to take place in July and August 2012, while the Paralympics dressage competitions would take place in September 2012.
Source: BBC