Cycling Newtered

Sometimes the plans of mice, men and the Olympics Delivery Authority (ODA) can be blown off course by the most unlikely of circumstances.

In the case of the ODA plans for cycling, it is the humble newt (Ken Livingstone's favourite creature) that has put a spanner in the works.

Cyclists attending clubs at Eastway Cycle Circuit in East London face the prospect of being denied facilities for at least a year, after newts held up the building of a new interim track.

The cyclists left Eastway in November 2006, to make way for the Olympic Velopark due to open April 2007.

However, the land is home to 450 newts one of which is the rare and protected great crested newt.

The London Development Agency (LDA) have had to put work on hold until the newts are relocated at a cost of £70K.

To date, 240 have been moved, but that leaves another 210. The delay in newt clearance means that the cyclists will be without their track until Summer 2008 at the earliest.

Eastway Users Group Chairman, Michael Humphreys, said:

"I would like to know why the LDA did not start collecting the newts until August 2007.

A lot of time has been wasted."

This little episode is entirely symbolic of the slip shod organisation and planning of the London Games.

More cock ups can be expected.