The London Daily News

30 October, 2010 01:45 (GMT +01:00)

Barnet left empty handed as 2012 chiefs re-route

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Barnet has joined Tower Hamlets in missing out on Olympic events.

2012 organisers have decided to strip the north London borough of a planned cycling route leaving the area with no involvement in the 2012 Games - despite residents paying an Olympic surcharge of £30 on their council tax bill.

A letter from the London 2012 Organising Committee broke the news to councillors sighting "technical requirements" and appeared to lay the blame with the International Cycling Union who asked for a "review" of the route and wanted a greater "challenge". Transport for London concerns over the impact on roads also
played a part.

Some of the world's best cyclists would have passed through the south of the borough, along The Bishops Avenue, in East Finchley - something 2012 chiefs said was not "technically feasible."

Councillor Robert Rams, Barnet's cabinet member for customer access and partnerships, expressed his bitter disappointment and called it a "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".

He adding:

"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."

However, locals will have a chance to be part of the Torch Relay as it passes through Barnet.

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