London 2012 invites local people to 'have their say'

The 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games will take place in venues across London and the UK, with the centerpiece of the Games the new Olympic Park in East London.

A series of events will be taking place this autumn in the boroughs bordering the Olympic Park Newham, Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest under the banner "Your Games, Have Your Say". These events, which will have an interactive exhibition, will provide an opportunity for local residents to see the Olympic Park plans and find out what else is going on in preparation for London 2012.

The Park will become a permanent part of the landscape after the Games bringing to East London the largest city park to be created in Europe for 150 years. This park, along with six permanent sporting venues, will remain for the public to use long after the Games are over, leaving a lasting legacy for London.

Since the bid, London 2012 has been working on the plans for the Olympic Park and many improvements have been made. Now new planning permissions are needed for major works to start on the site next year. This is a formal pre-application consultation process prior to submitting the planning applications.

London 2012 wants those who currently live, work and play in the area to come and find out more about these plans and share their views and local knowledge with the design team. Sebastian Coe, Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee, said: "London was chosen to host the 2012 Games because of its diversity, unique heritage and the enthusiasm of local people. We want to invite people from all of London's communities particularly those who live around the Olympic Park to get involved and to reap the benefits the Games will bring."

David Higgins, Chief Executive of the Olympic Delivery Authority, which will build the Olympic Park, said: "We've made some improvements to the Park plans since we won the bid, which mean that we will need new planning permission. This is your chance to have your say and help us shape the long term future of the Park."

David Higgins will among the senior ODA staff who will be joining some of the local roadshow sessions, along with a team from the London 2012 Organising Committee.

The roadshow events are being advertised locally on buses, tube stations, a local radio station and posters around the borough.

The exhibition will be transported largely by bicycle and will be accessible to all.

It will be interactive and child-friendly, with fun events for younger kids including face-painting, and engaging activities including writing or drawing about people's favourite parks, and recording their views on a 'vox pop' video, in addition to many other ways to register their views.

Roadshow visitors will be asked questions including what one thing they would like the Games to leave behind in their borough, what they would like to use the new park for, how they would like the park to look and feel, and what kind of facilities and events they would like the park to have after the Games. London 2012 staff will be on hand to provide further information and to hear what people have to say.

Look out for the "Your Games, have your say" events in the following locations:

Saturday 21st Oct
10am-6pm
Leyton Mills (next to Asda), Waltham Forest
Nearest station: Leyton (Underground)

Monday 23rd October
10am-7pm
Town Hall Square, Hackney Central
Nearest station: Hackney Central (Overground)

Wednesday 25th Oct
10am-7pm
Idea Store Chrisp Street, Tower Hamlets
Nearest station: All Saints (DLR)

Thursday 26th Oct
10am-7pm
Walthamstow Town Square
Nearest station: Walthamstow Central (Underground and Overground)

Friday 27th October
10am-7pm
Meridian Square (outside Stratford Station), Newham
Nearest station: Stratford (Underground/Overground/DLR)

Saturday 28th October
10am-6pm
East Ham Leisure Centre, Newham
Nearest station: East Ham (Underground)

Monday 30th October
10am-7pm
Stratford Shopping Centre, Newham
Nearest station: Stratford (Underground/Overground/DLR)

Saturday 4th November
10am-6pm
Idea Store Whitechapel, Tower Hamlets
Nearest station: Whitechapel (Underground)

Sunday 5th November
10am-5pm
Ridley Road Market, Dalston, Hackney
Nearest station: Dalston Kingsland (Overground)


Notes to editors:

• More information on these events can be found by calling 0203 2012 111, emailing enquiries@london2012.com or clicking here to go to the 'Have your say' section of the website.
• The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is the planning authority for the Olympic Park area in east London, and has set up a special committee to take decisions on planning applications. To find out more, click here to visit the ODA planning section of the website.
• Some roads, cycle ways and footpaths will need to be closed from 2007 in order to carry out construction work. The ODA and the London Development Agency (LDA) are working to keep any impact to a minimum, and diversion routes will be in place. A freephone enquiry line has been set up specifically to deal with road closures: 0800 585 653.