Happycampers: A vision of Gravesend during the Olympics?

by Mary Graham
mgraham@thekmgroup.co.uk

International Olympic visitors could be taking a water taxi to the world's biggest sporting event... from Gravesend!

The town's Olympic vision has just been revealed - and it shows spectators and officials getting to the games by water taxi.

They could even pitch up a tent for the night at two large fields dedicated to happy campers, according to the plan.

Gravesham Borough Council has been working on ways for the town to get the most out of the July 2012 Games for three years.

One way is turning fields at Gravesend Rugby Club, off Rochester Road and Culverstone Recreation Ground, south of Meopham, into temporary campsites.

The campsites will be managed by the Camping and Caravanning Club, which is the only UK body to have permission to set up temporary camp sites.

All campsite inquiries are going via the camping club and Melanie Norris, the council’s director for communities, said there had been a flurry of interest.

She said: “It is not just spectators who are interested in staying in Gravesend.

“The campsites are also appealing to support workers and volunteers who are working at the games and need somewhere relatively cheap to stay.”

The council is also in discussions with the Olympic Committee about running boats from a floating pontoon behind Town Pier to Greenwich as a way of shuttling spectators and workers to and from events.

Mrs Norris added: “Given the numbers of people interested in the games, London will be swamped.

“Yet the games are right on our doorstep and we have excellent transport links so what we have to do is show Gravesham is a place of interest.

“We have already been marketing the town as family-friendly and we are working with our hotel and B&B sector to ensure they get something out of the Games.

“We are even exploring whether people will rent out their homes, just as they are in Sandwich around the golf tournament.”

The deadline to register an interest for Olympic tickets is Tuesday, April 26.