A FRESH row has erupted between villagers and organisers of a controversial Olympic campsite over claims tents are blocking off a public right of way.

Members of Theydon Bois Action Group (TBAG) say tents and guy ropes are being pitched on the footpath – popular with walkers and ramblers – which crosses the temporary tourist campsite at the former Old Foresters’ Club.


The site was first advertised for use between July 25 and August 14, but tents were pitched in June and organisers have now applied to extend its opening until September 30. It is expected to house 400 tents during the Games.


Diane Gillespie, TBAG committee member, said: “Before the campsite arrived the footpath was clear and people just used it.


“Since the tents started arriving in June they have just been pitched on the path. Those guy ropes can be quite dangerous.”


Photographs sent to the Guardian by the group appear to show tent ropes obstructing the narrow path.

Mrs Gillespie said one resident had been ‘intimidated’ by men - claiming to be security workers - while trying to take photographs on Friday (July 20).

She said: “The security men told the resident he was on ‘private land’, which he was not as he is a regular use of the footpath and, despite it being blocked in places by inconsiderate placement of tents and guy ropes, knows where the footpath is.


“This is a man in his early sixties and he was really shaken. He reported the issue to the police.”


Concerned locals packed out the Village Hall on Thursday (July 19), as the parish council agreed to ‘strongly object’ to organisers’ bid to extend the site’s opening dates.


Mrs Gillespie added: “It’s about preventing a future precedent being set in planning terms.


“It makes a big difference to this village having that green belt there. If it’s built on, it would double the size of the village. And that doesn’t double the ambience – it halves it.”

But site owner George Dilloway said TBAG’s claims were untrue and ‘vindictive’.


“He wasn’t on the footpath, he was on private land. He was told if he wanted he could walk on the footpath – but he had no right to be on the land,” he said.

“The footpath is clearly marked. We have worked closely with the council to make sure everything’s correct. They have been monitoring it and making sure everything’s correct.


“The action group are trying to cause aggravation. We take a lot of abuse from the action group.”

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