Olympic organisers have been urged to ensure residents and workers aren’t disrupted by so-called ‘Live Sites’ which will show the Games on large outdoors screens.
London Assembly Member Kit Malthouse has raised concerns with officials responsible for organising the sites after it emerged residents could be subjected to “eight weeks” of disruption caused by their setting up, operation and removal.
According to Westminster AM Mr Malthouse, residents near Hyde Park have been told work to construct a site in the park will begin on 2 July and the site will not be completely removed until 24 August 2012.
Mr Malthouse said he was “extremely concerned that people living near Hyde Park will face eight weeks of disruption next summer because of the Live Site in the Park.
“Turning on big screens showing the Games at 7.30am some mornings and not turning them off until midnight, with 80,000 people attending, may to stop residents getting a decent night’s sleep. If these sites are not properly handled and controlled they could make peoples’ lives a misery.
“I want the organisers to make sure that the plans for the Live Site in Hyde Park have taken local residents into account and remembered that residents could be severely disrupted by these proposals.”
Malthouse has also expressed concern that the site will be used for “a number of large rock concerts” prior to the Games.
A 40,000 capacity Live Site is also proposed for Victoria Park in Tower Hamlets while a site at Potters Field in Southwark – close to City Hall – would have a capacity 4,500.
In February London Mayor Boris Johnson who, along with The Royal Parks and Tower Hamlets Council, awarded the contract for the sites said: “These fantastic live sites will mean everyone can soak up the atmosphere and revel in the excitement of this sporting spectacular.”
