Greenwich Park in 2012

Even Olympic events require planning permission under UK law. The application to hold the equestrian and modern pentathlon competitions in Greenwich Park in 2012 was submitted to Greenwich Council recently, shocking even some supporters of the project by the amount of the park that would be affected.
The cross-country route, for instance (shown as dotted lines on the plan (above) inserts its twisting 6km long tentacles into almost every corner, while most of the rest of the park is taken up by the grandstands and tents. Yet, as protestors always warned, there is not enough room in the park itself for all the facilities, and the organisers are now proposing to take over further public open green space outside on nearby Blackheath (on the right of the plan).
The Garden History Society has written to Greenwich Council formally objecting to the plans. The GHS points out that "even temporary" events can have an impact which extends far beyond the conclusion of the temporary event; in some cases ... so severe that the damage is permanent."
Details of the planning application and objections can be downloaded from http://onlineplanning.greenwich.gov.uk/acolnet/planningonline/acolnetcgi.gov

(December 2009)

In Historic Gardens Review for Autumn 2008 I raised the question of whether Greenwich Park, a unique Baroque gem set in a World Heritage Site, just south of the Thames, was the right place to host the Olympic Equestrian and Modern Penthathlon events and the Paralympic Dressage competition in 2012.
Even though Greenwich Park, criss-crossed with avenues of fine trees, is one of London's most historic and beautiful Royal Parks, many people believe that it will not be adequately protected against damage.
A copy of Historic Gardens Review was sent to Greg McErlean, Director of Major Projects for The Royal Parks, together with a letter inviting him to comment. Mr McErlean replied speedily and reassuringly, and offered to comment again later on. But he now feels that it should be the organisers, LOCOG, who respond. The response that LOCOG provided included:
"We are not cutting down any trees to accommodate the Equestrian events and The Royal Parks will continue its normal tree maintenance programmes. We have also listened to the views of local residents and redesigned the Cross Country course so it avoids the most sensitive areas, including the lake in the Flower Garden."
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, was also sent a copy of the magazine, and we know he received it and passed it on to his staff. No one at City Hall has ever replied to the enclosed letter - which seems typical of politicians' lack of respect for historic landscapes.
It is assumed that large events can take place in such spaces without damaging them - in spite of the fact that The Royal Parks recently had to play for metre-deep treatment to St James's Park to remedy compaction caused by the Olympic Handover Concert held there last August.
A group of local Greenwich people have formed NOGOE (No to Greenwich Olympic Equestrian Events). At this late stage, it is unlikely that they will be able to persuade LOCOG to move the events to another venue, but perhaps their insistence will encourage English Heritage, which has to approve the plans, not to let anything go ahead on the nod.
The Historic Gardens Foundation believes that whether historic landscapes, such as Greenwich Park, are properly protected is important not just to Londoners, and those who visit London, but to everyone all over the world who thinks that such places have a value which transcends short-term political gain. London must get this right.

Gillian Mawrey (May 2009)