11:39am Thursday 6th April 2006
I was fortunate enough to be in Australia during the Sydney 2000 Olympics. The ceremonies and events were exciting and the nation benefited from them. I wholeheartedly support the London 2012 Olympics and accept that some of the costs will be borne on those who will benefit. Perhaps Londoners will gain more from the event, yet it does seem unfair that the rest of the country is exempt, particularly seeing what these so-called gains mean to the people of Barnet.
The Labour Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, promised Barnet in July 2003 that the A406 would be widened to six lanes. He led us to believe this was a compromise as he had postponed important works on roads off the North Circular.
In 2004, we learned that Mr Livingstone had shelved even this plan to move money east for projects relating to the 2012 Olympics. Lawrence Marzouk's article continued by disclosing that the proposal had been reduced to merely improving the one-lane section in Bounds Green to two lanes.
Now we discover that Mr Livingstone wants this lane back also, to give Olympic VIPs a dedicated lane.
We now have inflation-busting rises in Tube and bus fares ostensibly to pay for Olympics works. With the inflation-busting rise in the mayor's council tax precept for yet another year, Barnet residents could be forgiven for feeling that Mr Livingstone truly is a zone one' mayor.
The fair approach to funding for the Olympics, if not through a modest contribution nationwide, must be for those boroughs where infrastructure is being improved to contribute proportionately.
Reuben Thompstone
Conservative council candidate for Woodhouse ward
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