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Countdown to Olympics 2012
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Rat-run re-route for Olympic cycle races
THE changes the 2012 Olympics will bring to the face of Camden became clearer this week as a report put an £18 million price tag on work needed to ensure the borough plays its part in the global games.
Among the schemes, detailed in a Town Hall environment committee report approved by councillors on Tuesday night, is a plan to re-route one of the borough’s busiest commuter rat-runs.
Whitestone Pond in Hampstead has been earmarked by the Olympic Development Agency, the City of London and Camden Council as a prime spot for spectators viewing bike races at the 2012 games.
It would mean re-directing traffic, creating a pedestrianised section linking the pond to Hampstead Heath and also leaving a permanent platform offering views across London.
The work, which would see traffic shifted to the north side of the pond, would be partly paid for by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and allow top cyclists to race through Highgate and Hampstead in their pursuit of Olympic glory.
The report estimates that £750,000 will have to be spent on Whitestone Pond. It says: “This historic area needs a lot of investment to restore it to its previous glory, in keeping with the outstanding heritage of the area. This includes new York stone footways, lighting, landscaping and the pond itself, which needs draining and repairing.”
The report adds: “If seating was elevated on a temporary platform, it would also offer superb views across London.”
The report also covers facilities for the world’s media, who will be based in the borough, and transport issues.
It asks for more information from the ODA on how to ensure St Pancras station – the starting point for a rail link to the Olympic Village – is able to handle extra passengers, on funding plans to increase rail services on the North London line to eight an hour and on the possible use of Regent’s Canal by water taxis to ease the burden on the city’s roads.
Town Hall environment chief Conservative councillor Mike Greene is backing the Whitestone Pond scheme. He said: “I would be keen to make it part of the Olympic bid for cycle races and we are looking to put in a bid.
“I remember when I was a kid I’d walk up there and watch people with their model boats. I’d love that to happen again.
“We would need to work out how you could keep traffic flowing but we’d like to see how we could bring it back to its magnificent glory.”
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