Olympic progress - maximising opportunities, minimising disruption

The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games will bring both opportunities and challenges for the Royal Borough - and the council is geared up to ensure there is a positive legacy for local residents.

A report to cabinet on Thursday 25 November highlights the considerable progress already made and puts forward the revised Olympic strategy which sets out how the council will continue its close links with the games organisers, neighbouring councils, partner organisations and government agencies to 'maximise opportunities and minimise disruption' when the rowing and canoeing events take place in August and September 2010.

A new working group is also to be set up, chaired by Cllr Simon Dudley, to oversee the borough's action plans and arrangements.

Cllr Dudley, lead member for adult and community services, said he was pleased by the council's 'strong progress', not least attracting £10m in government grants to improve parking and travel in time for the games - £5m each for implementing the Windsor parking strategy and improvements to the Windsor and Eton Relief Road.

He said: "Considerable strides have been taken in the past couple of years and we now have a large number of Olympic-orientated projects under way. These, in their respective ways, aim to make the games positive, enjoyable and memorable for everyone in our community, whether or not they are interested in sport.

"Having Olympic events right on our doorstep will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience and we are working to solve potential problems before they happen - like having a direct say in transport and travel arrangements, which will be key to the games' success, especially with Windsor Racecourse being the official transport hub."

Cllr Dudley underlined the importance of the Olympics for the borough's visitor economy and jobs. He said: "We already have around seven million visitors a year but the Olympics will be a big draw, both before and during the games. This will have a very positive impact on employment and local trade, particularly for hotels and shops.

"We also have a firm focus on ensuring that games visitors will have a great time while they are with us and will want to come back again and again."

Highlights of the borough's Olympic progress also include:
• More than 60 local schools and colleges signed up to the London 2012 Get Set programme
• £75,000 of grant funding for the new AdiZone outdoor gym at Braywick
• training for businesses, eg shops and B&Bs, to ensure visitors get a warm local welcome
• access audit to highlight improvements needed in the surrounding area to make the games more accessible to people with disabilities
• skills audit to identify training needs so businesses can make the most of 2012 opportunities
• designation of Maidenhead as one of the three games rail hubs
• support for volunteer recruitment nationally and through Windsor and Maidenhead Voluntary Action.

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