Andrew Dismore

Commenting on the admission that the proposed helter-skelter slide for the Orbit Tower at the Olympic Park will cost £3.5m to install, on top of the £10.4 million we already owe and   £10,000 a week loss the Orbit is currently incurring, Labour London Assembly Member Andrew Dismore AM said:

 

“With the Orbit already losing £10,000 a week, splashing out another £3.5m to put up a novelty slide will only send the tower’s costs further into orbit.

 

“The £3.5m price-tag means that if the LLDC go ahead with the £5 ticket price that they’re suggesting, we’d still need 700,000 visitors just to break even. That’s far more visitors than the sculpture is currently getting ,three times their optimistic estimates, and comes on top of the Orbit’s current £12 admission charge making the whole £17 package beyond the reach of many London families.

 

“There’s a lot of competition but the Orbit is quickly taking on the mantle of one of Boris’ greatest follies. We were promised a great value Olympic Legacy, not a metallic red  phallic symbol of Boris Johnson’s ego. Think what a difference £3.5m could make to the dwindling sporting legacy from the Games, which would be  a far better use of money than putting up a slide.”

 

ENDS

 

Notes

 

• The admission that the Orbit slide will cost taxpayers £3.5m to install was made by LLDC Chief Executive, David Goldstone. A webcast of the full session is available here.
• For further information call Andrew Dismore AM on 07957 625 813