Road To Hell The Olympics

More than 250 miles of road are to be reserved for VIPs during the London Olympics.

Up to 80,000 officials, sponsors, politicians and athletes will have congestion-free lanes in London and at other venues.
Ordinary motorists face fines if they stray on to the reserved routes, which include sections of the M25. Challenging the fines could lead to a penalty of up to £5,000.

‘Out of the way, peasants! Your lords and masters are coming through!’

Critics said the plans - outlined in a Department for Transport consultation paper yesterday - owed much to Soviet-style 'Zil lanes'.

In Communist times, these were used by high-ranking party and state officials to get around Moscow in their Zil limousines.

And we all remember what happened to the Soviet regime, don’t we…?

But AA president Edmund King said: 'The network will cause congestion for buses, taxis and other road users.

'Enforcement must be fair. The last thing we want is motorists straying into Olympic lanes by mistake and being hit with fines up to £5,000.'

Remind me again: is it too late to let Paris have the Games?

The consultation document listed possible effects of the network, including the possibility of delays to other traffic during the Games, tougher parking restrictions for residents, stricter loading restrictions and the need for public utilities to reschedule roadworks.

Among the VIPs are members of the International Olympic Committee and other affiliated organisations; technical officials, sponsors who provide £1billion of funding and services and members of the media. A 14-week consultation period on the proposals will now follow.

Behold our new privileged class! Hangers-on, moochers, spics and PR flacks…