January 27th, 2010

Cramming Everyone In…

The unrelenting driving force behind the Weymouth Relief Road project is the so-called Green 2012 Olympics. Despite campaigner’s insistence and the findings of independent research body Transport Research Laboratory, that the town’s infrastructure cannot cope with the huge expected influx of people and traffic to the area, it seems the government and local councils remain hell-bent on shoehorning everyone in somehow.

Work began late last year on identifying a site for the Olympic Sailing Village after plans for using an off-shore cruise ship were rejected.  It is estimated that with the arrival of approximately 400 international athletes, around 500 to 600 bedrooms will be required to accommodate all the competitors and officials…

With 3,300 people already on the housing register in Weymouth and Portland local councils area hoping that any new developments will be turned into affordable homes for locals after the 2012 Olympics.

Government now imposes strict environmental standards upon new council building projects, including legislation on insulation, energy efficiency standards, double glazing and the use of sustainable materials. However taking into account government actions to date, it seems where the 2012 ‘Green’ Olympics are concerned, environmental interests fly well and truly out the window.

January 14th, 2010

Irresponsible and Unacceptable

WeymouthReliefRoad_beforenadafter
Irresponsible and unacceptable – this was how environmentalist Rebecca Lush described the building of the Weymouth Relief Road which got underway last year. The views of thousands of environmental protestors and locals were ignored, irrevocably scarring an area of natural beauty and dramatically increasing traffic, congestion and Co2 levels in the area. Even the incredible discovery of an ancient Roman burial site during clearance work, did nothing to slow the destruction process…

For more pictures and information visit the Bypass The Bypass website where you can also register your support and/or make a donation.