By Aaron Barbour
We co-hosted a follow-up meeting last week about our recent ‘Fool’s Gold’ report, (see earlier blog post) which we co-authored with new economics foundation.
The next day I went up to the roof of Holden Point in Stratford to get a panoramic view of the Olympics ‘building’ site, with among others London Borough of Newham’s Workplace.
The follow-up meeting was with partners interested in taking forward the recommendations of “Fools Gold”, including the Big Opportunity, Social Enterprise London , East Potential , and Manor Gardens Allotment Gardens Society. I left heartened because I realised that there are a lot of good people and organisations working hard to ensure that the 2012 Olympics truly benefits the local communities of east London.
There were a couple of other opportunities worth noting from the meeting. Firstly, the economic downturn and a looming recession actually present an opportunity for increased negotiation with the ODA , LOCOG, LDA, and Bovis Lend Lease and all their sub-contractors. They were going to make their money back by selling-off the land after the Games, but how will that happen now? Their staggering projection of 16% year-on-year increase in the land value until 2016 now looks unrealiseable. Maybe the ODA and their contractors should look at other means to re-coup their finances, such as new forms of three sector partnership community interest companies, which could enable assets to pass to local people and communities.
There is a second opportunity, gained from the slow realisation by the powers that be, that the key to a successful legacy will be achieved by involving local people and communities. Who wants to see the £242m Aquatic Centre covered in graffiti or the Olympic park as a no-go zone? Imagine if this was the reality, who would want to buy a property in such an area? If local people feel that they ‘own’ and are part of the legacy process then we might see some meaningful and inventive results.
DCMS recently launched the Olympic Legacy Action Plan. Consultants Beyond Green are co-ordinating the legacy master plan consultation until July next year. So get organised, get involved and keep persisting to ensure that:
Legacy = Community Benefit for east London.
What do you think? Leave a comment.
