Olympics juggernaut tramples King's Yard

10.29.45pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 14th Aug 2007

King's Yard Buildings

The Olympics Development Authority (ODA) today approved outline proposals for the Olympic and Paralympic games which include the demolition of most of the King's Yard sweet factory site. It was left to a Councillor from Hackney to question whether all alternatives to the demolition of the historic buildings in Tower Hamlets had been explored.

The King's Yard campaign suffered an expected and sad blow when the ODA agreed with the recommendation to demolish most of the buildings in order to build a heating and cooling plant. Tower Hamlets Liberal Democrats have been supporting the campaign to find an alternative to demolition - a campaign which has received encouragement from the office of the Prince of Wales.

In the course of a seven hour meeting attended by Libdem group leader, Cllr Stephanie Eaton, representations were made about the historic, cultural and architectural significance of the Kings Yard buildings. Tower Hamlets Council's representative, Labour's Cllr Rofique Ahmed said absolutely nothing for the whole meeting! He later said he was suffering from toothache. However, the heritage champion for Hackney, Cllr Geoff Taylor, did ask for reassurances that all options to the demolition of King's Yard had been fully explored and ruled out. Cllr Taylor said "I am sure the proposers do not particularly want to demolish these historic buildings but I am not convinced that a high enough priority has been given to keeping them."

Cllr Stephanie Eaton commented after the meeting "This is a bitter blow to the heritage of Tower Hamlets and the East End. Yet another part of the history of this city and the people who worked in it will be destroyed, without any comment or questions from the member who is supposed to represent the interests of the Borough."

More information about King's Yard can be found in our earlier story here:

http://tower-hamlets-libdems.org.uk/news/000086.html