Six degrees of lateness

By Giles Broadbent on June 18, 2012 12:35 PM |

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Lateness is not an absolute but merely a point on a vast spectrum of tardiness, according to Olympic organisers Locog.

Locog charitably leapt in front of a bullet destined for the Olympic host boroughs (who, doubtlessly, set their clocks, watches and calendars to different scales to ensure they are on time for everything somewhere).

The cause of the "lateness" (although we shudder to use such a loaded word) was the the local area transport management plans which, to you and me, mean parking permits and big signs outside our houses warding off interlopers during the Olympics.

Expect cars with cameras, probing wardens and general tut-tutting as you hover near your Prius during Games-time.

Sorting out these plans has been like playing three dimensional chess using pieces made from pork pie jelly on a board mounted on the back of a skittish rabbit.

They were due back in the halcyon days of 2011 and frequently delayed as different boroughs attempted to come up with different - and generally incompatible - plans.

Stepping up to the plate, Locog director of transport Richard George had a bash. He said: "I've been asked several times why it's all so late; it isn't late. It's at the end of a very long process. If it could have been done earlier it would have eased my nerves.

"A lot of issues could only have been resolved on a very detailed basis. It is almost inevitable that these things end up late in the day."

"It's unfortunate but that's where we are. It has been a long hard road with all the boroughs but we are in a pretty good place although there are huge challenges ahead of us still."

Try it on your boss. "The project is not late, it's just late in the day." Has a ring to it.

giles.broadbent@wharf.co.uk