Mayor of London Boris Johnson insists motorists will not be banned from driving in the capital’s city centre during next summer’s Olympics.
Johnson was responding to recent reports in the media that claimed the International Olympic Committee is keen to see traffic structures rejigged during the Games, including a possible car ban in central London to minimise congestion.
But the Mayor emphasised there were no plans to enforce such measures as he answered a question from Liberal Democrat Baroness Dee Doocey at this week’s London Assembly Meeting.
“I think it would be crazy [to do so],” said Johnson. “I give you categorical assurance that I won’t do it.
“As I understand it, there is no basis whatever for this report. No such suggestion has been made to me, so we are a bit mystified about where this is coming from.”
The Games are is expected to cause a significant increase in traffic on London’s notoriously congested roads.
And it is an issue which the IOC Coordination Commission will keep monitoring in the months leading up to London 2012.
“The transport system has been improved,” said head of the IOC’s London 2012 coordination commission Denis Oswald. “There has been big investment made. And this will remain after the games.
“We visited the Transport for London offices, where we have seen all the technology which is available. We have seen information on the situation of different parts of London and we were very much impressed.
“We were shown how this will apply during the Games and this has given us confidence on the ability of Transport for London to overcome the additional traffic which will be present for the Games.
“A lot of progress has been made. But this is an issue we have to follow very closely until the end.”