Olympic strain for Dorney

Callum Brodie • Published 23 Oct 2008 13:00 0 Comments

Dorney's Olympic commitment is showing the first signs of strain with Parish councillors reluctant to allow redevelopment in a nearby nature reserve.

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) want to re-surface the Drove Road which runs through an important conservation area, home to various forms of wildlife.

The Parish Council has now forwarded a report to South Bucks District Council stating their objections to the proposals on environmental grounds.

Parish Clerk Glenda Collins, said: "Anything that is necessary for the Olympics will receive the full support of the Parish Council, we don't want to be seen as the big bad guys standing in the way of progress. However, we just don't feel that the Drove Road plans are essential."

ODA plans to re-surface the Drove Road would require a substantial operation involving the removal of 6,000 tonnes of rubble and the laying down of 3,000 tonnes of Tarmac.

Ms Collins, explained: "It's overkill really, there are more environmentally friendly options. We would ask the ODA to re-consider the issue. We hope that other options that might be more environmentally friendly and generally better for the village may be explored."

The ODA claims that the re-surfacing of the road is needed for maintenance vehicle access to Dorney Lake, which will host the rowing and canoeing events at London 2012, yet councillors remain concerned that the plans do not comply with the green policy of the London Olympics.

With the countdown to the games underway access to Dorney Lake has become priority, with thousands of spectators set to descend upon the

village in four years time.

One alternative measure now being explored by the Parish Council is the use of a levelling vehicle which will help provide travel links with the lake.

Ms Collins, continued: "The levelling vehicle will effectively plain the land after the construction vehicles have gone each day. It would be much more environmentally friendly, not as expensive and far less disruptive for our village."

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This article appeared in Royal Borough Observer 23 Oct 08

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