ELEVEN Islington streets will be closed or have reduced lanes during the 2012 Olympics, it was revealed this week.
The roads, which have been earmarked in a new Government report, are among dozens which will be shut off to make sure that Olympic officials and VIPs can travel around London in comfort.
But Islington's ruling Liberal Democrat council have called the plans a "disgrace", and promised to fight to make sure that ordinary people aren't treated like second-class Olympic citizens.
Liberal Democrat councillor Greg Foxsmith, Islington's councillor in charge of transport, said: "Londoners will pay millions for the 2012 Olympics, only to face sitting in traffic jams while Olympic fat cats and VIPs swish along on roads closed to ordinary people.
"The 'them and us' approach taken by the Labour government and the International Olympic Committee only confirms that they are not listening to Islington residents. Where was the consultation about these proposed routes?"
The roads that will be commandeered by the International Olympic Committee are Goswell Road, King's Cross Road, City Road, Pentonville Road, Penton Rise, Old Street, Wakely Street, St Paul's Road, Balls Pond Road, Newington Green Road and Holloway Road.
The special measures that will apply are:
* Olympic lanes - a lane of traffic designated for the exclusive use of Olympic vehicles.
* Traffic lights constantly monitored by CCTV cameras, which will be turned green so the Olympic cars never have to stop.
* Restricted or prohibited access for general traffic.
* Changes to waiting and loading restrictions, which will particularly affect shopping streets.
The International Olympic Committee has also demanded a fleet of 3,145 chauffeur-driven limousines to transport officials.
Councillor Foxsmith said: "What about the environmental impact? They should be investing in public transport that will get everyone around London on time. Or put the VIPs on bikes.
islingtongazette.co.uk
The roads, which have been earmarked in a new Government report, are among dozens which will be shut off to make sure that Olympic officials and VIPs can travel around London in comfort.
But Islington's ruling Liberal Democrat council have called the plans a "disgrace", and promised to fight to make sure that ordinary people aren't treated like second-class Olympic citizens.
Liberal Democrat councillor Greg Foxsmith, Islington's councillor in charge of transport, said: "Londoners will pay millions for the 2012 Olympics, only to face sitting in traffic jams while Olympic fat cats and VIPs swish along on roads closed to ordinary people.
"The 'them and us' approach taken by the Labour government and the International Olympic Committee only confirms that they are not listening to Islington residents. Where was the consultation about these proposed routes?"
The roads that will be commandeered by the International Olympic Committee are Goswell Road, King's Cross Road, City Road, Pentonville Road, Penton Rise, Old Street, Wakely Street, St Paul's Road, Balls Pond Road, Newington Green Road and Holloway Road.
The special measures that will apply are:
* Olympic lanes - a lane of traffic designated for the exclusive use of Olympic vehicles.
* Traffic lights constantly monitored by CCTV cameras, which will be turned green so the Olympic cars never have to stop.
* Restricted or prohibited access for general traffic.
* Changes to waiting and loading restrictions, which will particularly affect shopping streets.
The International Olympic Committee has also demanded a fleet of 3,145 chauffeur-driven limousines to transport officials.
Councillor Foxsmith said: "What about the environmental impact? They should be investing in public transport that will get everyone around London on time. Or put the VIPs on bikes.
islingtongazette.co.uk
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