London 2012 Olympics site clean-up is complete
Stratford’s contaminated and toxic industrial land has been transformed completely to create London Olympics Site – Great Britain’s largest urban park for over a hundred years. The Environment Agency stated that the work of cleaning up the Olympic site and make the biggest urban park in Europe for over a century is now completed.
A total area the dimensions of which equal 297 football pitches, most of which were previously contaminated, is now cleared up, with 2000 native trees and 300000 wetland plants planted and 5 miles of the River Lea has been restored.
The Environment Agency has worked together with the London Development Agency, Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and some other partners working on the Olympics site to clear it up. The Environment Agency stated it had assisted the ODA to decontaminate 2 million tons of soil in order to make it reusable.
Invasive plant varieties, on the River Lea, which include Himalayan balsam, Japanese knotweed & floating pennywort were removed, in addition to concrete walls, in order to enhance the river habitation to make it suitable for wildlife as well as users.
The Environment Agency also said some 22 miles of cycle ways and pavements have been created and 110 acres of land has been transformed into grassland, wet woodlands, reed beds and ponds to sustain the wildlife. Creation of space within the park for flood water and enhancing defenses, has reduced the flood risk to approximately 5,000 properties in West Ham and Canning Town. The Olympic Park even offers eco-friendly amenities like a waste water recycling plant and an energy center generating adequate low-carbon energy to power over 10,000 homes.
The construction of the Olympics site has enabled development and large scale construction. The Olympic Park is paving a way for executing major improvement.
The Chairman of Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), John Armitt feels that creating Britain’s large urban park out of contaminated, landscape has required both determination and clever thinking. Basically, the Environment Agency has functioned hand in hand with the ODA on issues like reducing flood risk and restoring habitats, and improving water quality.
About Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA)
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is the public body responsible for building as well as developing new venues and infrastructures for the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games. One of the major responsibilities of the Olympic Delivery Authority is the creation of Olympic Park where most of the action will take place. ODA’s work can be categorized into six priority themes which include employment and skills, design and accessibility, equality and inclusion, safety and security, health, sustainability and legacy. Dennis Hone is the Chief Executive and John Armitt is the Chairman of the ODA.