March 22nd, 2007
What Happened to Democracy?
Following on from our Beastway story further developments reach us courtesy of Singletrackworld.
It is quite clear, as reported by The Guardian that the Olympic Development Agency have done their darnedest to make the process of objecting to their post-Olympic redevelopment plans as difficult as possible.
But even so you would have thought that hand-delivering your objections would be a simple matter. Apparently not. When the Eastway Users’ Group tried to hand in letters objecting to the downgrading of the mountain biking facilities to a token 900metre track in order to make way for more housing things did not go so smoothly:
Then it was on up to the offices of the ODA (Olympic Delivery Authority) to hand in letters of objection to the planning decisions team. Staff at the building refused to accept the letters and started to get heavy, so the group moved off to City Hall.
Eastway Users’ Group Press Release - my empahsis
In response the ODA say they have a policy of not accepting parcels from members of the public “for security reasons”. Instead they must be posted. This is laughable.
Firstly there’s a difference between letter and parcel. Even 10 Downing Street, one of the most security conscious places on Earth in these times, still manages to accept petitions from members of the public.
Secondly, has there ever been a single case of a letter bomb being delivered by the actual bomber in person, as opposed to all those that reach their destination via Royal Mail?
Even the BBC has cottoned on to what a stitch up the redevelopment plans are.
Sadly I fear there is no hope of overturning these plans. The ODA holds all the cards. According to the BCF who have rolled over and died rather than fight cycling’s corner “the ODA will be involved in ‘working up’ the planning application as well as granting or refusing permission.” Which you can only trust to work so long as you believe the anti-conflict provisions in the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act 2006.
For some reason the use of heavy handed security and an emphasis on housing brings the words of the Carter USM hit “Sheriff Fatman” to mind when thinking of the ODA.
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