The rejuvenation of the industrial wasteland in and around Stratford has already happened to a great extent.
Balls. I live near the site, and what has actually happened, is that a load of existing businesses were forced out, most only receiving a token payment under the compulsory purchase order scheme (ie nothing like the true value of their land), thousands made unemployed, and the destruction of some of the most fragile urban wildlife in Britain. All that has been put in it’s place is a giant Westfield shopping centre, (which will sound the death-knell for loads of existing small businesses in the area), and a load of new flats will be beyond the reach of many locals anyway, as they will be far too expensive. The amount of traffic to the area will increase dramatically, seeing a big rise in pollution to an already polluted area.
The sports stadia will undoubtedly be too expensive for many locals to use, and end up being obscenely underused, unless they are taken over by private companies. You can’t expect Newham Council to run things propply; they bloody never have.
It was never about any genuine socially beneficial ‘legacy’, it was only ever about making a select few people rich. Local amenities are closing down because of a lack of funds, yet more and more money is being found to prop up the mounting costs.
It’s already a disaster. BoJo and LoCoe don’t want you to know that though….
