'Blame Tories if Olympics is a fiasco' (Windsor Liberal Democrats)

Windsor Liberal Democrats <info@windsorlibdems.org.uk>

'Blame Tories if Olympics is a fiasco'

October 28, 2009 12:00 AM
By David Millward dmillward@berksmedia.co.uk in Royal Borough Observer Midweek

Lib Dems say park and ride is still the answer

Predicted traffic chaos during the Olympics will be the fault of the ruling Tories who rejected a proposed park and ride scheme, leading Liberal Democrats are claiming.

Julian Tisi, the Lib Dem prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Windsor, claims Olympic organisers have been forced to cobble together difficult alternatives because of past decisions.

Tory transport boss at the Royal Borough, Cllr Colin Raynor said last week the roads of Windsor could grind to a halt as an expected 30,000 people a day make their way to rowing events at Dorney Lake during the 2012 Olympics.

Mr Tisi said: "It is beyond belief that the Conservatives who vetoed the plan for an M4 Park and Ride for Windsor for the Olympics at Dorney Lake are now complaining that there isn't a proper plan for transport for the Olympics." The proposed park and ride was rejected at a Royal Borough cabinet meeting in November 2007.

Cllr Kathy Newbound, a Lib Dem shadow council lead member, said the Conservatives whipped up fear about the park and ride when they should have been improving it and addressing the concerns of local people.

However, Tory councillor Tom Bursnall said spending £22 million on the scheme would not have been a 'good deal'.

He added: "We will never concrete over an ancient Eton Meadow. The costs would be eye-watering to the taxpayer and after the Olympics have gone we would be left with a concrete field with a handful of cars in it.