• Question by: Meg Hillier
• Meeting date: 15 October 2003

I want to mention the Hall Farm Curve, which is the bit that links Chingford to Stratford. Can Barry comment briefly on where plans are to fit that in? Secondly, Barbara, the IOC questionnaire asks you to detail any opposition to the bid. In my part of East London there is general support for a bid and for an Olympics. But there is an issue, and I wanted to touch on that in the next section, about transport in Hackney in particular. Hackney has suffered for a long time with very poor transport links. There is a risk that if...

• Question by: Nicky Gavron
• Meeting date: 15 October 2003

But, at the moment, there is a link and you cannot use it; there is no way in.

• Question by: Nicky Gavron
• Meeting date: 15 October 2003

I agree that we have to get the existing transport infrastructure right. There is a direct link from Stratford to Stansted which is growing very fast in the period up to the Games. It cannot be used. It needs two things. Firstly, the doubling of the track capacity between Tottenham Hale and Broxbourne, which was planned for completion by 2007 but is now being consigned to the distant future by the SRA. It was one of their top priorities, but now it is out. Secondly, improvements are needed to the Copper Mill junction on the link between Tottenham Hale and...

• Question by: Nicky Gavron
• Meeting date: 15 October 2003

Doubling the track?

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 15 October 2003

Have you thought about how people will get from the Olympic Village to the Dome, given the current problems with the Blackwall Tunnel?

• Question by: John Biggs
• Meeting date: 15 October 2003

• Question by: Meg Hillier
• Meeting date: 15 October 2003

Actually TfL are visiting Hackney next week. I just want to bring it back to the IOC questionnaire that has to detail any opposition. Perhaps Barbara could comment on that?

• Question by: Meg Hillier
• Meeting date: 15 October 2003

Can we keep this specifically about connections for the Olympics? In order for people locally to continue their support in broad terms for the Olympic bid, there is a strong desire to see this bid as a catalyst for finally improving transport in Hackney. The East London Line was fought for. We have fought together and won, but that is the western edge of Hackney. Crossrail 2 is longer term and yes, we now see that commitment. But, for example, around Hackney Wick at the moment there is no proper transport infrastructure and if an Olympic bid cannot bring some...

• Question by: Meg Hillier
• Meeting date: 15 October 2003

We are talking about central Hackney.

• Question by: Roger Evans
• Meeting date: 15 October 2003

Is that a no, or a maybe?