Further supplementary memorandum submitted
by British Shooting
As you are aware, there has been a great deal
of debate within the British media, surrounding the costs, locations
and legacies of the sporting venues involved with the London 2012
Olympic Games.
As Chairman of British Shooting, the National
Governing Body for target shooting whose record in both Commonwealth
and Olympic games speak for themselves, I should like to supply
you with the facts surrounding the proposed 2012 shooting venue
at the Royal Artillery Barracks, Woolwich.
The RAB is situated on a parcel of land in an
urban environment, totally inappropriate to the sport LOCOG wish
to host there. British Shooting has identified an alternative
location at Dartford, which is within 45 minutes by road of the
athlete village at Stratford and if approved, would provide a
blank canvas to showcase our sport. The use of this venue retains
the compact games guidance requested by the IOC by allowing athletes
to remain resident within the village whilst competing here in
the UK at the Olympic Games.
It simply does not make sense to build a facility
at a cost of £18.6 million, use it for a maximum of six weeks
and then demolish it at a further cost of £4 million (both
figures plus VAT) leaving the sport with nothing to show for the
£25 million spend of tax payers money. Accompanying this
short brief is a page summarising our main reasons for trying
to engage with LOCOG and asking them for a "common sense"
approach to resolving this matter.
I sincerely hope that the information we have
provided is of sufficient interest and helps you form an objective
opinion. I believe that with your support for British Shooting's
alternative venue, we will not only provide the right facilities
for our sport during the Games but also by relocating to Dartford
it will provide our sportsmen and women both able and disabled
with the delivery of a legacy beyond 2012 that the public were
led to believe we won the bid with.
REASONS TO
RELOCATE 2012 SHOOTING
VENUE AWAY
FROM WOOLWICH
1. £18.6 million spent on a temporary
venue (LOCOG original estimate therefore not accounting for VAT
(0,325,000) and spiralling costs).
2. Demolished after the Paralympics (6 weeks
use and further £4 million + vat (£700,000)).
3. Located in densely populated residential
area giving major congestion problems during build up and decommissioning
to an already extremely congested area of London.
4. Unacceptably loud noise generated within
densely populated urban environment.
5. Test event scheduled for April 2012 will
have 1,000 shooters plus managers, coaches and technical officials
using venue causing even more traffic problems.
6. Site contamination (20 tonne lead) requires
clean up and unimaginable further huge costs.
7. Urban areas and shotgun shooting ranges
are not compatible (NGB Quotation).
8. Grave reputational damage to the sport.
Event organisers simply don't care.
9. Evacuation of MOD residential properties
necessary due to safety requirements.
10. Damage caused to residential properties
that are inside exclusion zones.
11. Major Road Closures will grid lock the
area affecting public access to NHS A & E hospital.
12. Complete waste of public money.
13. No physical legacy.
REASONS TO
BUILD AT
DARTFORD
1. Once in a lifetime opportunity to build
a sustainable platform for the future of our sport.
2. Complies with IOC/ISSF requirements for
compact games, athlete travel time (45 minutes).
3. Following games some buildings could
be used for community use/legacy.
4. Economically and environmentally sustainable.
5. Existing police approved ground in rural
environment.
6. Noise readings taken and proven to be
almost inaudible at nearest habited dwelling.
7. Howard Stoate local Labour MP in full
support.
8. NGB/Owner will agree to fund extra ranges,
which will bring it into line with the last four Olympic Games
Venues.
9. Construction and test event traffic will
not have any effect on local roads or residents.
10. Layout and construction will provide
enhanced promotion and exposure for sport during 2012 and beyond.
11. Opportunity for 2nd Olympic sport legacy
following games.
12. Wise and proper use of public funds.
13. Legacy for the sport.
January 2008
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