170 businesses forced out by Olympic car park
18 September 2005
"I've heard some pretty outrageous stories of small businesses getting squashed by the big guys, but I can't believe that the London Mayor will let a 170 East London businesses be concreted over, so that the world's super rich have somewhere to park whilst they have a 17 day party. Ken uses public transport, all the sports enthusiasts watching the games will use public transport, so why can't the head of Coca-cola?"
Jenny Jones, Green Party member of the London Assembly
Greens on the London Assembly can reveal that the temporary Olympic car park on Fish Island will mostly be used by 500 coaches belonging to Olympic sponsors and their guests. The London Development Agency is forcing scores of successful businesses out of Fish Island, in East London, so it can use the land as a temporary car park the Olympics. Some of these businesses have existed since the 1800s and probably won't be able to relocate within the M25.
There are still no plans for using the Fish Island site after the Olympic Games are over. The land is located within one of the regeneration areas and the legacy plans will be submitted in a planning application before building work commences.
Notes for Editors
The Western Coach Drop-Off and Parking Area, located at Fish Island, will be used for coach parking for sponsors and their guests and for technical officials, and for car parking by national Olympics officials and International Federation personnel and their guests. This includes: 520 coaches will be provided for 15,000 sponsors and guests; 90 coaches will be provided for 2,500 Technical Officials; 250 car parking spaces and 40 coaches will be provides for 800 national Olympics representatives and 550 car parking spaces and 50 coaches will be provided for 3,700 International Federation personnel and their guests.
