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Unrealistic plans will cause chaos at Games, warns transport chief
Matthew Beard, Olympics Editor27 Sep 2011
The woman responsible for delivering the Olympic transport plan for London's boroughs today said the strategy could end in chaos.
Catherine West, who is in charge of transport for the 33 London councils, is at loggerheads with Games planners over their proposals to ease the strain on roads and public transport by cutting journeys by a third.
The target of cutting the equivalent of almost 300,000 trips per day was unrealistic, said Ms West, leader of Labour-run Islington council.
In a bitter attack on Olympics chief Sebastian Coe, she added that London was an Olympic city divided between East End boroughs which had been "picked off" and the rest who are "not engaged at all".
Her warning comes as Transport for London intensifies a campaign to urge commuters to work from home next summer to avoid meltdown at Canary Wharf, London Bridge and Victoria. Journeys in such hotspots must be cut by 70 per cent.
Ms West, chairman of the transport committee at London Councils, said: "I can't see how realistic 30 per cent is. We achieved it for the royal wedding but it was a public holiday. In August you normally get a 10 per cent reduction but where is the other 20 per cent going to come from?
"I don't think we have a plan for achieving it. If it is not achieved I think it could be quite chaotic."
In an attack on legacy plans, she added: "The whole approach that has picked off five boroughs and the rest of London are not engaged at all. It hasn't had the grassroots impact - we are still fighting for our running track a year before the Olympics."
Coun West accused Games chiefs of "storing up trouble" due to a nine-month delay in transport plans for individual venues. The International Olympic Committee has privately said London needs alternative traffic plans such as a city centre driving ban.
TfL is in charge of Olympic transport policy and controls how it will be implemented on the Tube and much of the 109 miles of road lanes for Games traffic. But London boroughs are critical as they manage most roads.
Mark Evers, director of Games transport at TfL, said: "We are (confident) we will achieve the necessary changes to travel, We do not need to reduce travel by 30 per cent at all times throughout the Games period. The levels will vary from day to day depending on the events taking place."
Reader views (10)
Baron, all you do on these articles is write negative slander. You moan and moan as if you have nothing better to do.
Is it going to be difficult during the games to get around, at least harder than normal? Of course it is! But get over it, the Games last for TWO WEEKS! 90% of the traffic issues are only going to be a factor during that period.
Its not a whole summer thats going to ruin your lives and personally I think its a cost worthy of having the greatest sporting event in the world in our capital city.
For those who like big statements, and think this is easy then consider this:
This is the biggest peaceful project being organised in the world today. Its not a walkin the park and LOCOG are working their backsides off to make it work as best as possible.
Now walk away from your keyboards and think about the positives for our country rather then these negatives that you're all so fixated about!
Oh and Matthew, I hope you will give your tickets to people who want to go when offered your free media services. Instead I predict you'll happily take your seat in the Olympic Stadium for the opening ceremony laughing your head off thinking of all the people you've wound up into a frenzy. You sir are the scandalous one.
- James, London, 28/09/2011 13:43
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Anyone left who STILL thinks the Olympic Fiasco is good for London?
The men in white coats will be along soon...
- Baron von Richtofen, Biggin Hill, 27/09/2011 18:16
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Does anyone (apart from Coe and Jowell and a few other sporting nonentities) still think hosting the olympics will be good for London? My advice to all Londoners who will be even slightly inconvenienced by this carnival of fraud and corruption is to sue Coe for the costs involved.
- R.F.Yorke, Yorks, UK, 27/09/2011 16:17
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She's quite right - I even went along to a so-called consultation beacuse I was worried about the impact of lane restrictions and road closures in Marylebone (not even near the Games) and was met with ignorance and arrogance by TfL staff, who have absolutely no knowledge of residents live, how traffic flows or any awareness of the chaos their ridiculous schemes will cause. Expecting Londoners to leave town for 2 1/2 months (this covers the Paralympics as well) because they will be unable to move about in their own city is both unrealistic and insulting. Since we're paying for the damned Games, we should at least be able to enjoy them. The organisers seem to live in a parallel universe, where no-one needs to get to work, the shops or the hospital (their traffic plans seriously impact access to local healthcare in my area). They are so sure that everyday life will stop for the Games that they won't even consider realistic and workable solutions to transport issues. The London economy will suffer enormously. Residents will go through hell and tourists will wonder what on earth they are paying for as they stew on buses and tubes to get to Olympic venues. All so that media folk and VIPs can zoom through the centre of town in 24 hour fast lanes on the major traffic arteries. I can't wait to see the fall-out.
- London Lass, London, 27/09/2011 14:22
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We have Ken Livingstone and Seb Coe to thank for their personal egotistical drive in procuring unfortunate London with these Olympic Games. The sheer unaffordability, the disastrous planning and organisation has bestowed upon London a white elephant which has never stopped spiralling out of financial control since the beginning. In recession, economic cutbacks and job losses, a venture which is a plain stupid burden on already over-burdened Londoners.
- John, London, 27/09/2011 14:17
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The idea that thousands of people will be cycling to the olymnpics is a joke. For a start Stratford council blocked the introduction of Boris's cycle superhighway. Cycling roundf the Stratford gyratory is strictly for lovers of extreme sport. From Hackney the olympic route is a joke, with a Greenway that its not clear what's for walkers and what's for cyclists.
From parts north and west there is just about no cycle routes that any normal person would want to use.
- Terry, London, 27/09/2011 14:12
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My favourite daft suggestions was that Londoners change their working hours to free up the rush hour. Hmmmmm, wonder how that ever got its name?
- Marianne, SW France/London, 27/09/2011 14:10
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Don't you just love the I.O.C., an unelected body of freeloaders, suggesting a total "Driving Ban" in central London? I take it this is so "THEY" can swan through in their limos provided at your expense.
I am glad I may, and its a big may, watch it on my TV whilst sipping a glass or three of Sangria on my Terrace overlooking our swimming pool which is, at that time of year, full of nubile young ladies. That's why it will be a big "may".
- Aylyn, Orihuela Costa , Alicante, 27/09/2011 14:07
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Its already Chaos in east london, ask any driver. I see massive problems ahead, and what with more idiots saying 'Work from home' where is the delivery driver going, taxi cab, medical couriers etc going to do?
Never have I seen such a C ock up*
- Edward DeFazio, Little England, 27/09/2011 13:18
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I hope so...
Chaos would be lovely, seeing this all come crumbling down...
Too much to hope for wettest summer on record too ?
- Joanna, London, 27/09/2011 13:02
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