Looking down from the viewing flat onto the canal below, MPs spotted that it was covered in a thick bright-green film of algae. It was clearly an algae filtering machine, as it had a proud 'Lean Mean Green Machine' sign stuck to the side. It gallantly set out working its way through the expanse of green sludge, taking on a long strip of the waterway at a time. About 20 minutes later it had almost cleared our stretch of the canal.
Algae faced by the machine:
MPs were clearly impressed as they thought we had organised this clean-up deliberately for them. We hadn't (honest), but the timing was a helpful reminder to press home the delivery of our sustainable promises about London 2012 – from the ODA reusing or recycling 90% of demolition materials on site and transporting building materials to the site by river, to LOCOG’s plans for Games-time food and CO2 emissions.
That done, the MPs drained their cups of tea and headed for Stratford en route to their parliamentary offices – probably dreaming about having a go at driving the lean mean green machine.
