By Tom Degun

london 2012_runup_largeDecember 8 - The Olympic Park venues in Stratford, such as the Aquatics Centre, should be marketed as a family attraction following the conclusion of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, according to a new report published today by the London Assembly.


The new report from the Assembly's Economy, Culture and Sport (ECS) Committee focuses on the legacy plans for the Aquatics Centre, VeloPark, Handball Arena and Eton Manor, where there will be a hockey and tennis centre.

It recommends that the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) and the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority (LVRPA) work together to promote the four venues as a single destination that should be open to the public for at least 80 per cent of the time due to the fact that the venues are likely to need continued public subsidy after the Games.

The Assembly suggest that there are joint tickets to visit the four venues and that extra visitor attractions are put in place by the OPLC – such as shops, markets, museums and sports taster sessions - to help boost the local economy and encourage local regeneration.

"The venues need to become compelling new visitor attractions for London because getting people through the doors is vital for the long-term viability of the venues and the Olympic Park as a whole," said Dee Doocey, chair of the ECS Committee.

"The venues should be open to the public for as long as possible and easily accessible for local people and visitors from further afield.

"Within and between the venues there should a range of things to do: the Park can be a place where visitors can not only go swimming, but also watch an event or concert, have lunch, visit an exhibition and do a bit of shopping.

"It's highly likely that the venues will need an on-going public subsidy, but that investment brings the potential to boost jobs and employment in east London long into the future.

"We know those who will own and run the venues after 2012 share these ambitions."

eton manor_07-12-11
After the Games, the OPLC will own the Aquatics Centre while the LVRPA will own the VeloPark, Eton Manor (pictured) and the Handball Arena, which will become a multiuse arena in legacy.

The report also suggests that there are poor transport links to some of the venues in the Olympic Park and has called on Mayor of London Boris Johnson and Transport for London (TfL) to look at improvements to Hackney Wick and Leyton stations as well as pedestrian access from the north of the Olympic Park.

"Transport connections are excellent for the Olympic Stadium and Aquatics centre, but need to be improved for other venues in the north and west of the Park," said the report.

"TfL has recognised that service and station capacity upgrades are required at Leyton and Hackney Wick stations, and pedestrian access from Leyton should also be enhanced.

"We recommend the Mayor agrees improvement priorities with TfL, the OPLC and the LVRPA.

"We ask that the Mayor, the OPLC and the LVRPA respond to our recommendations by the end of March 2012."

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