The 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver are an exciting reminder that the next time the Olympic torch is lit, the Games will  be happening right here on our doorstep.

The Games will bring a new wave of opportunity, prosperity, inspiration and community spirit to Waltham Forest, like nothing we have seen before. Our focus is on creating long-lasting and visible benefits for the local area and local people. This ambition was recently praised by the Government’s Olympics Minister, Tessa Jowell

We will make sure we are Getting more from the Games by

  • Investing in our streets
  • Increasing Olympic Park access
  • Improving business and skills
  • Inspiring our community

Investing in our streets

One of the biggest benefits of being a host borough is the funding we have secured to invest in our streets. We have already secured over £8million and there is more to come.

As the part of the borough bordering the Olympic Park, Leyton will see massive improvements to its high street and roads. From improving road safety around Ruckholt Road through to replacing old paving slabs along the High Road, the journey through Leyton will be a more pleasant and safe experience for everyone. See the announcement of the £5million grant for these improvements

We have recently secured £400,000 to be spent on giving Leyton High Road a make-over. Shop fronts will be smartened up to look more appealing, attracting more visitors and businesses to the area. Plans for the project are being developed currently, so watch this space for more details.

Just a couple of the other projects we are working on are the Ruckholt Road area, Crownfield Road and Cann Hall Road, which will see work beginning by autumn 2010. Our aim is to improve road safety, traffic flow and street furniture. If you’re a local resident in these areas expect to see more detailed information coming through your door shortly. The plans will also be available online.

Over the coming years, the Council will invest millions into transforming all of our town centres into the vibrant, modern places they deserve to be, both for the Games and for generations to come.

Increasing Olympic Park access

Both during and after the Games, we believe our residents deserve access to the very heart of the Olympic Park.

We are working hard to push for improved transport links in Waltham Forest. These include the reopening of the Hall Farm Curve train track, which would link residents in Chingford and Walthamstow directly to Stratford.

We will also continue to call for the vital improvements necessary to Leyton Underground Station, to ensure it is fit for purpose during 2012. Plus, we are developing plans to improve Marsh Lane foot bridge, a key part of the route through the Lee Valley to the Olympic Park

With over 40,000 Waltham Forest residents living within half a mile of Eton Manor – the part of the Olympic Park within our borough – we believe that a new pedestrian and cycle bridge should be built. This would link Leyton Mills directly to the two international standard hockey pitches, ten tennis courts, ten football pitches and the mountain bike trail that will be on Eton Manor after the Games. The bridge is a central part of our plans to ensure everyone in the borough can enjoy the legacy of the Games for generations to come.

Improving business and skills

Hundreds of residents have already been trained in construction and security skills, helping them find employment on the Olympic Park site and on other major construction projects.

After a £7.6 million investment, thousands more local people will benefit when the borough’s National Skills Academy for Construction opens this summer in Leytonstone.

The Council’s Worknet partnership continues to support local people, finding them further training and employment opportunities in a time when many residents need it the most.

The Council is encouraging local businesses to bid to supply goods and services to LOCOG and the ODA

Inspiring our community

There are many ways for residents to be inspired by the Games; from registering an interest in volunteering at www.london2012.com/volunteering or joining in the celebrations at a whole range of events planned throughout 2010, you can get involved.

You can show your support for the Games happening here by displaying a free window sticker in your home or business. Simply send an email with your name and address including post code to  and we will send you a window sticker in the coming weeks.