HERTFORDSHIRE county councillor Derrick Ashley has been appointed as the new chairman of Lee Valley Regional Park Authority (LVRPA).

The Lee Valley Park is London's biggest open space and stretches from Hertfordshire into Waltham Forest and Newham, The authority will fund and manage several Olympic venues during 2012 games, including the VeloPark, which is close to the Stratford / Leyton border.

Mr Ashley said: “I am proud to be a part of this important phase of the park’s development.

“As Chairman, I will lead initiatives to reach out to our many stakeholders and users and ensure that the whole of London, Essex and Hertfordshire see the key role that the Park plays in the region.”