Michael Goldman lives in Greenwich, loves Greenwich Park and doesn't want a load of Olympic-standard horses galloping, jumping or even daintily dressage-ing all over it four years from now. He is a founder of Nogoe, the principal local campaign group opposed to the park's use for the 2012 Games's equestrian events.
No matter that Henry VIII used to steer steeds around the place and hunted deer there in the 16th century, Goldman, 79, and his allies are quite certain that it is no longer suitable for such rough treatment. They think the park too small and delicate, the disruption too great and the legacy benefits extremely small. They are realistic too. "We think it likely that the park will be confirmed as the venue soon," Goldman says. "But we will continue to fight."
There's been speculation that the Olympic Board - that's Tessa, Seb, Colin and The Blond - is wobbling. Untrue, says a Locog spokesperson: it's just that a report by KPMG on the economics of all the Games's temporary venues is taking longer to complete than was first thought. Locog also insists that no trees will be cut down, that rumours of large parts of the park being closed for months are false and that it will take all necessary measures to protect the world heritage site; it echoes the commitment of competition manager Tim Hadaway to "working with local residents," to make the events a success; it stresses that a legal agreement will be signed with Royal Parks guaranteeing that the park will be unscathed.
Nogoe is yet to be convinced. Goldman doubts the value of the KPMG review because, he says, it isn't looking at environmental issues. He is quite certain that the cross country element of the three-day event could and should be moved elsewhere. A Nogoe committee was formed in August. Its members include former ITN chair Sir David Nicholas and barrister Sir Franklin Berman. A dossier is being prepared for submission to the Board, the ODA and Games sponsors later this month. Nogoe is seeking to raise local awareness and mobilise opposition. Goldman is quite clear that he won't be mollified by the Council's or Locog's consultations.
"We're going further," he says. "We know that things can be changed. Venues for some other sports are already being moved. It may be that we are fighting a fruitless battle but I'm hopeful that we can have an effect." The Council is holding a public meeting about the Games at the O2 centre on December 4th. Be there or be square, wouldn't you say?
