Greenwich Park Olympic row rumbles on

Circus Field is to be used as a support zone during the Games for canteens, horse boxes, stables, training areas and parking, with Greenwich Park set to host the equestrian events.

The Act, and the supplemental Act for Blackheath 1871, refer to a management scheme prohibiting any enclosure of the land, other than for the repair of the grass. Nogoe argue this makes Locog's plans illegal, with no means for Olympic chiefs to overturn it.

The legal loopholes were discovered by Nogoe supporter and retired solicitor Lionel Lewis, who worked with local historian Neil Rhind to put together a case to present to Greenwich Council.

Locog's planning application is currently before the Council, but Nogoe are confident it will be thrown out.

Nogoe's co-ordinator John Hine said: "We are most impressed with the careful research that has been carried out by Lionel and Neil.

"They have developed what seems to be an unarguable case, which we expect the Council to endorse.

"We always said Greenwich Park was too small and since LOCOG are unable to use Circus Field, it should do the decent thing and take the events to a venue which does have the space, but not the fantastic heritage that they wish to destroy at Greenwich."

But a Locog spokeswoman dismissed Nogoe's claims.

She said: "We disagree with what Nogoe and Lionel Lewis say about the use of Blackheath. The legal provisions Nogoe has pointed to have nothing to do with Greenwich Council's ability to consider our planning application. Greenwich Council has confirmed it will be considering our planning application in the normal way.

"We will of course be seeking any necessary consent for the use of the land in due course. We have gone into a huge amount of detail about in our planning application about all our proposals, and we would not have submitted this if we believed it was not legally sound.

"The use of Blackheath is nothing to do with the claim that Greenwich Park is too small, it is all about operational use and causing less disruption to the Park itself."

Greenwich Council's decision is expected in the spring.