Local Conflict - CASE STUDY Flashcards
Aim for proposal
Centralise facilities in order to reduce traffic congestion.
Create central hub for olympics venues.
Rebrand and reconstruct a brownfield site along the Lee Valley.
Location of project proposal
4 east London Borough eg. Tower Hamlets and Newham.
North River Thames.
5 miles central London.
Industrial location, land had been heavily contaminated… Had to remove 1.4million tonnes of contaminated soil, clean and redistribute.
Dimensions of project proposal
560acres
4 free themed walking trails to explore eg. London 2012, Bio-diversity
26 permanent artworks
6800 homes built
Social reasons for conflict
1: Clearance of settlements, firms and sporting activities
- Displacement of 425 tenants from Clays Land Peabody Estate
- Clearance of 209 Lower Lee Valley businesses, 5000 jobs dispersed
- Construction curtailed sporting activities eg. On Hackney Marshes
2: Increased securitisation
- 12000 police
- US Officials bringing 1000agents
- Ground to air missiles place on tops of certain tower blocks and in beauty sports eg. Blackheath
3: Distortion of the residential property market
- House prices increased differentially since bid announced
- Newham had sharp escalation in rental prices (remains 2nd cheapest place to live in London)
Economic reasons for conflict
Waste of public money?
- Some believe huge waste of money
- est. £2.4billion, to get “on time and on budget” £8.77billion
Environmental reasons for conflict
1: Loss of the Manor Garden Society (MGS) allotments
- 80 plots, betrayal to gardeners and those waiting to get on list
2: Aviation
- influx of tourists
- more noise, local air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions
- est. 7million tonnes
3: Unsustainable
- as games drew closer officials distanced themselves from their original targets, began to focus on reducing and mitigating the carbon footprint
4: Olympic traditions
- Metals in medals came from Rio Tinto mine, which has cause life threatening air and water pollution from its mining endeavours.
Attitudes of different groups to Location
1: Bedrock Crushing (concrete recycling company)
- relocated
- LDA undervalued land and paid £2.75million (developer offered 5.7 earlier that year
- sold out business as so many complaints about dust
2: Brewsters
- relocated
- relocation = nightmare… Premises without utilities for months
- lost £500 thousand in profits from LDA
3: LDA
- “everything they can to assist businesses no help them fairly relocate everyone from Olympic site”
1500+ employees forced to relocate from Hackney… Only 35 remained in borough.
12 firms closed down entirely.
Attitudes of different groups to Transport
“GAMES LANE” lane reserved for athletes, games officials and the media.
1: Citizens
- more time should have been spent finding new strategies eg. Congestion free zones
2: International Olympic Comunity
- these appreciated as halved time to get to Olympic park
Attitudes of different groups to Budget
Sport England
- Budget slanted by £55.9million between 2009-2012
Tax payers
-resented plans to add extra £20 on their council tax to pay for the Games that will only directly benefit those in East End
London Olympics Committee
- total benefit to Uk for hosting London 2012 will be significant and long lasting
- positive impact on unemployment levels
How was conflict resolved 1? (Olympic Truce)
Olympic Truce = encourage a peaceful environment and ensure safe passage and participation of athletes and relevant persons in the Games. Thus mobilising support of world peace.
Foreign secretary and Un Secretary General - Mr Ban held press conference on the Olympic Truce on eve of London 2012. Mr Ban commended UK for giving life to the Olympic Truce with social and development projects at home and abroad that have benefitted thousands, and encouraged the future Olympic hosts to take up the challenge and match the UK’s initiatives.
UK implemented an international programme of Olympic Truce activities promoting its ideals. Global programme of over 80 activities promoting peace and conflict resolution through sport, culture, education and wider public participation.
How was conflict resolved 2?
LDA helped businesses who have been relocated.
LONDON DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION.
The conflict between the tax payers and the London Olympics Organisers will never be resolved due to their being virtually no solution, other than ‘cut back’, which they cannot even do because of certain ‘promises’.
Winners
1: Local residents
- reopened July 2013. Facilities, events and celebrations for local community and wider public.
- post-Olympic village = school for children of all ages. School open to surrounding areas.
- jobs have been created over the years of Olympic development eg. Additional regeneration. 20 thousand more could be created by 2030.
- 25% drop in divorce enquiries during Olympic period
- residents enjoyed being close to the action, or made money out of renting a property.
- Olympic effect leads to increase in property value.
2: NHS
- increase in physical activity the Olympics brought with it. Could help reduce Obesity levels.
3: UK Economy
-£9.9billion boost in trade and investment from hosting Games
- UKTI:
£2.5bn additional inward investment (58% outside London)
£1.5bn high value overseas contracts, helping to design venues in other host-nations
Losers
1: Residents
- some hated every moment. Eg. Missiles parked on their roofs
- a few subject to compulsory purchase orders or eviction notices early in preparations
2: London Zoo, Tower of London & Kew Gardens
- 20% fewer visitors over summer, weather may have been a factor.
3: Environment
-Lower Lee Valley…. Known as green lung for London
-Led to…
loss of bio-diversity
less O2 produced
less CO2 absorbed
-Increased global CO2 emissions due to more aviation and transport.
Type of project proposal
Queen Elizabeth Olympic park inc. Olympic stadium, village and London Aquatics centre
Truce
Mobilising support of world peace.
