Olympic organisers respond to councillors criticisms (From Sutton Guardian)

Olympic organisers respond to councillors criticisms

4:00pm Saturday 16th June 2012 in News By Sophia Sleigh, Reporter

The organising committee of the Olympic and Paralympic games has responded to criticisms by a Cheam councillor.

Mary Burstow slammed the “boring” Olympic banners in Cheam and criticised them as a waste of money in her online blog.

Sutton Council was given £50,000 of funding by the GLA to spend on decoration ahead of the Olympic Games.

The money was to be spent on bunting, flag poles and other Olympic themed displays from Locog, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games', official supplier Icon.

Locog responded to the criticism and said: “We have worked together with local authorities to create a London 2012 ‘look’ that connects communities across the UK to the venues and the Games.

“A wide range of ‘look’ assets are available, from banners to bunting and floral displays, which were pulled together following feedback and consultation with local authorities. If boroughs do not wish to display London 2012 Look they can use their own local decorations.”

Councillor Jill Whitehead, chair of environment and neighbourhoods committee on Sutton Council, said: "The GLA has funded all of the official Olympic decorations, and we have only been able to choose from designs sent out by LOCOG.

"LOCOG's contractors began putting up the banners at the end of last week and most town centres are now complete, although there are still some banners scheduled to go up in Sutton High Street, and every Sutton school has been given Olympic bunting to decorate their buildings. “Summer 2012 is a once in a lifetime opportunity to show our city off to the world, so it's important that our borough looks its best."

The banners went up at the end of last week and there are still some banners scheduled to go up in Sutton High Street.

What do you think? Send your opinions to ssleigh@london.newsquest.co.uk.