OLYMPIC bosses have ruled the Barnet borough will not play any part in the 2012 games after diverting the cycle route away from the area.

The world's best cyclists were due to pass through a small section to the south of the borough, along The Bishops Avenue, in East Finchley, before entering back into Camden.

But games officials have written to Barnet Council chiefs saying it is not “technically feasible” to host the road race in the borough.

The decision means residents, who pay about an extra £30 a month on top of their council tax as part of an “Olympic surcharge”, will not see any live sports in the borough.

Councillor Robert Rams, Barnet's cabinet member for customer access and partnerships, said: “I'm bitterly disappointed as this is blow to not only the borough, but more importantly its residents who have contributed financially to the Games and are now being denied the chance to be involved.

“Many of the residents are up in arms about having to pay the money but they won't see any benefit to the borough, while people in Essex are not paying anything and are having the benefits right on their doorstep.”

A letter sent to council officers from the The London 2012 Organising Committee, seen by the Times Series, explains after “extensive” discussions with agencies including the Greater London Authority, Transport for London and the International Olympic Committee, the “fundamental challenges” of incorporating the borough in the road race could not be overcome.

It states: “In order to meet the technical requirements of the sport the International Cycling Union asked us to review the routes in order to present a greater challenge to the riders to meet the evolving demands of the sport since 2005 when we submitted the London 2012 Bid.

“In addition, hosting these events in this location would have an acute impact on transport which would have an unacceptable effect on wide residential areas and more generally the operation of London’s roads.

“We fully understand that this may disappoint the residents of Barnet and this difficult decision was taken with the adverse transport impact on residents in mind.”

The Olympic Torch relay is still on course to pass through the borough on its way to the Olympic Site, in East London, but Cllr Rams said: “I'm sure The London 2012 Organising Committee could come up with an alternative cycle route which would eliminate these problems and give our residents the chance to watch the best athletes from around the world compete in a Games which has been branded one for all Londoners."