Olympic Torch Route to be made “Fit for purpose”

The Conservative cabinet of Herts County Council has been forced to recognise that Hertfordshire’s roads are nothing to be proud of, adopting an amended recommendation that gives the Highways portfolio holder authority to sort out the state of the roads along the Olypmic Torch Relay route.

Liberal Democrat Highways spokesperson, County Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst, said:

“Having the Olympic Torch pass through a number of our towns and villages is a distinct honour. It says a lot that the Conservatives felt they needed to amend their own officers’ recommendation to ensure, as they themselves admitted at the Full Council meeting last week, that the roads to be used are ‘fit for purpose’.

“It shows that they might finally be waking up to how disgraceful many of our roads are in Hertfordshire. Now that they are going to be put on show to the world, they seem to be taking belated action.”

Lib Dem Councillor Allan Witherick, who attended the meeting which saw the recommendation amended, said:

“What the Conservative Cabinet seems to have decided is that, if you live on the Olympic Torch route, you can look forward to your road being brought up to the decent standard that most of us would expect. But if you’re waiting for your road to be done elsewhere in the county, good luck: it could well end up being dropped off the list while the roads on the Torch route are done up.”

Hertfordshire is on the starting blocks for London 2012 Open Weekend

Councillor Chris White, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Board:

Hertfordshire is on the starting blocks for London 2012 Open Weekend

It’s just four short weeks away until Hertfordshire and the rest of the UK c
elebrate the 3-year countdown to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. What will you do to celebrate the Open Weekend on 24 – 26 July?

Why not join in and do something you’ve never tried before? We want organisations and venues to open up and challenge themselves to do something different. And we want the public to join in and try something new, inspired by London 2012. This could be learning a new language, trying out a new sport or exploring parts of your local area you’ve never seen before.

Hertfordshire is piloting ideas around the county during the Open Weekend which we hope will become regular events that bring communities together beyond 2012. We are particularly keen on cultural activities in town centres and events that make more use of open spaces. And Lee Valley Regional Park, home to the White Water Olympic venue in Broxbourne Hertfordshire will have all sorts of exciting events over the weekend.

The Open Weekend is a perfect example of how communities from around the UK, and not just those in London, can get involved with the London 2012 Games. And it illustrates how the London 2012 Games is about a whole lot more than sport.
To register your event log onto: www.london2012.com/openweekend and complete the form.