Transport for London (TfL) and London 2012 have today set out plans to manage the huge influx of visitors expected in the heart of the Capital next summer, when it will host a dazzling array of sporting and cultural events.
Thousands of residents and businesses are being sent information and detailed maps about the Central London Zone, which will be based around Hyde Park, Green Park and St. James Park, to help them plan for when the 2012 Games arrive on their doorstep.
Numerous Games venues will be based in central locations such as Horse Guards Parade, and free-to-view cycling and athletics events will take place on some of central London’s most famous streets.
Several ‘national houses’ are proposed to be located in the area and Hyde Park will also host a Live Site where people will be able to soak up the Games atmosphere on giant screens.
The events will attract many thousands of spectators and additional visitors, and there will be significantly more pedestrians in the already busy area.
In order to ensure the extra pedestrians are able to get around safely and that the Games can run effectively – with the minimum of disruption for those who live and work in the Capital – some temporary changes will need to be made to roads in the Central London Zone.
TfL will be putting in place additional pedestrian and road traffic management in central London during the 2012 Games which may include restricting turns into roads, suspending parking and loading bays, and changing bus lanes and stops.
In addition, parts of the Olympic Route Network (ORN) will run through key areas of central London.
It is expected to begin operation just a couple of days before the Games begin, and TfL plans to end the operation of the ORN as soon as possible after the Olympic Games.
The Paralympic Route Network (PRN), which will be significantly reduced in size, will similarly be installed just a couple of days before the Paralympic Games.
In addition, a small number of the events, such as the Olympic Cycling Road Races and Marathons, will take place on roads that are part of central London’s ORN.
On those days a small number of additional road closures will be needed and an alternative ORN (AORN) will be used to keep London moving.
All but one of the road events, the men’s Triathlon on 7 August, will take place at weekends.
Peter Hendy, London’s Transport Commissioner, said:
“Next summer will be a tremendously exciting time to be in central London.
“Shops, restaurants and other retail outlets in the area are set to benefit from the thousands of extra visitors, while local residents will have the world’s most important and exciting sporting and cultural event on their doorsteps.
“Central London’s transformation into a major sporting venue does mean that some changes need to be made to roads and footways, and the maps and other information we’ve published today are the result of the work TfL and Westminster City Council have done to find the safest and most effective way to manage the area during the Games.”
Leader of Westminster Council, Councillor Colin Barrow said:
“Westminster is used to hosting major sporting events but the 2012 Games will present a unique set of challenges and will involve changes to the transport network.
“We are working closely with TfL and other agencies to ensure that the needs of residents and businesses are balanced with the important task of keeping London and the Games family moving.
“Test events this summer give us an important opportunity to gain insight into how Westminster will deal with this great occasion.
“We would ask businesses and residents to plan ahead and contact us if they have any concerns.”
All 68,000 businesses and homes in the affected area, which will be centred around Horse Guards Parade, The Mall and Hyde Park venues, will be sent information, including detailed maps, during the coming week.
