Hackney trader makes last-minute plea to Olympics bosses to save company
A Hackney businessman on the fringes of the Olympic Park this week begged 2012 bosses to come up with a last minute plan to save his company.
Michael Spinks, director of Essex Food and Grain in Lee Conservancy Road, said time was running out for the future of his family’s food distribution business with less than 200 days to go until the Games – even though he has been calling for action for more than a year.
Mr Spinks, who ran in the general election in May 2010 for his Justice for Victims of the Olympics party, fears transport restrictions and the security measures will kill off his business, with the loss of 100 jobs.
Official documents show the A12 southbound will be reduced to one lane from mid- July to mid-September and the southbound and northbound slip roads at the Lea Interchange will be closed from 6am to midnight.
“It is the Olympics that are driving us out because we are totally dependant on roads,” said Mr Spinks.
He wants The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) to pay �600,000 for him to relocate the company’s headquarters.
“LOCOG need to pay for us to go – and if we are going permanently rather than temporarily we need to come up with a solution that funds that because this is not our fault. We are the victims here.”
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But a LOCOG spokesman denied that relocation was necessary.
“A lot of work has gone into getting businesses in the area to understand the impacts of the Games taking place and how they may have to adapt this summer,” he said.
“Our teams are working hard with Essex Flour and Grain on plans for Games time and looking at their delivery needs. We have met them, corresponded regularly and will continue to do so. LOCOG is confident that this business can operate at Games time.’
