§ Mr. GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the British Olympic Association about the suitability of the proposed athletics facility at Picketts Lock to host the 2012 or 2016 Olympics. [118114]
§ Kate Hoey[holding answer 10 April 2000]:My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I met representatives of UK Athletics, UK Sport, Sport England, the British Olympic Association and London International Sport on 24 March to discuss the bid for the 2005 World Athletics Championships. At that meeting, the British Olympic Association indicated that they were content with Picketts Lock as having the potential for facilities to stage an Olympic Games.
§ Mr. GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he last visited Picketts Lock, Enfield. [118111]
§ Kate Hoey[holding answer 10 April 2000]:Neither my right hon. Friend nor I have visited Picketts Lock recently.
§ Mr. GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what financial(a) help and (b) guarantees his Department has offered to UK Athletics for the development of Picketts Lock; [118215]
(2) what discussions he has had with the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority about the long-term ownership and use of the proposed athletics stadium at Picketts Lock; [118110]
(3) what discussions he has held with (a) Railtrack and (b) ministerial colleagues in the DETR about improving rail links to Picketts Lock, Enfield; [118112]
(4) what discussions he has held with Ministerial colleagues in the DETR about improving road links to Picketts Lock, Enfield; [118109]
(5) what external advice he has received on the likely timetable of works for the development of a major athletics facility at Picketts Lock, in relation to (a) design, (b) planning, (c) demolition of existing facilities and (d) construction; [118113]
254W(6) what discussions he has had with (a) the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority and (b) Enfield Council about the proposed athletics facility at Picketts Lock; and what financial support they have offered for the project. [118117]
§ Kate Hoey[holding answer 10 April 2000]:UK Athletics is to be congratulated on securing both the 2003 World Indoor Championships in Birmingham and 2005 World Athletics Championships in London at Picketts Lock. UK Athletics is now continuing the process of drawing up detailed proposals for developing the site, including proposals for road and rail links. That process will involve discussions with the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, the London Borough of Enfield, Sport England, UK Sport, the Government Office for London and my Department, among others.
Prior to making the bid presentation to the IAAF in Paris, UK Athletics and Sport England undertook extensive discussions with a range of parties across London to determine the optimum site for staging the 2005 championships in London. During that process representatives from UK Athletics and Sport England and an official from my Department met representatives of the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority and the London Borough of Enfield on 21 March to discuss the feasibility of the Picketts Lock site for staging the championships. At that meeting, the Park Authority indicated that funds were already earmarked in its business plan for developing the Picketts Lock site and both capital and revenue contributions might be forthcoming to a world-class athletics facility on that site.