Tour de Waltham Forest
Date: 22 June 2008
Time: 11.00am - 5.00pm
Location: Walthamstow Town Square
On Sunday 22 June we visited the Tour de Waltham Forest and spoke to over 200 local residents who kept us on our toes with lots of interesting questions about the legacy of the Park.
Our bike displays with interactive panels proved to be very popular at the cycling focused event, as was the children’s area with model-making and the Olympic Park masterplanning game which got people thinking about how they thought the Park should be laid out. Comments included:
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“Your representatives were very friendly! Our ideas were for art installations by the river and shared allotments. Can we have them?”
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“Balancing off the elements was difficult! But at least we are talking about having a legacy!! It would be good to see a ‘Museum of Waterways’ documenting the history of the canals and river Lea in the area – former industries, nature, biodiversity etc.”
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“It was great to have a chance to shape the future Olympic Park and give some input on what I would like to see. Can’t wait to see the proposal that comes out. Great fun!!”
We also wanted to know if people had any big ideas for the park and here are a selection:
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“I would like to have a hotel, bar and restaurant in the Olympic Park. I am have experience in the area and am able to run such a venue.”
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“In regards to transport you should seriously consider the potential vehicle and pedestrian congestion issues around the Olympic Hackney Wick area. I propose to use a ski lift system of transporting people into Hackney, otherwise the little main roads into Hackney (i.e. Homerton Road and Morninglane Road) will create chaos and madness for people living and working in the area.”
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“The Olympic site seems to consist of three islands created by the various waterways of the river Lea. My ‘big idea’ is that each of the islands be given a name, possibly based upon great Olympic performers, e.g. Redgrave Island.”
Waltham Forest locals also told us how the Olympic Legacy can benefit the local area:
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“We would like to see lots of cafes and ponds to visit, a recycling centre, a wildlife centre, and a Park for adoloscents and children where we should commission local people/artists to build benches and sculptures."
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“Walthamstow needs a multi-cinema complex and a professional theatre.”
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“Youth clubs, activities and mentoring for young people to stop them getting bored and getting into trouble.”
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“Travelling with ease between Walthamstow and Stratford by public transport.”
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“A general tidy-up of the area. The strip of green running down the Lea Valley to the Thames is a tatty semi-industrial area. A beautiful linear version of the green belt would be my ideal legacy.”
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“The population will have the opportunity to take advantage of the fact that so many artists live here. Many venues and events will make this a culturally vibrant place to live.”
For more information and photos about our roadshow and masterplanning game, please click here.
