Hackney residents to carry Paralympic Torch in own borough as LOCOG u-turns

The London 2012 Paralympic Torch

A last-minute change of plans means five Hackney residents are to carry the Olympic torch through the borough this afternoon. Under the Olympic organising committee LOCOG’s previous plans, locals had been asked to travel to Hertfordshire to carry the torch there, whilst those carrying the torch through Hackney would have hailed from outside the borough.

The local torch-bearers had been unhappy with the original arrangements, and one of them had refused to make the journey altogether.

David Vellala, who had selected the torchbearers from Hackney, put pressure on LOCOG to change their plans. “We took a strong position and we were looking for a positive outcome all along”, said Mr Vellala, delighted with the final decision.

Hackney Council and others had also raised the issue with the Olympic authorities.

The five local residents, Sharon Jones- Barnes, Aneurin Wood, Tim Rushby-Smith, Amir Laksari, and Kayum Choudhury, will carry the flame as it makes its way through the borough today, stopping at Hackney Town Hall and London Fields.

Estimated times

6.08pm  At the junction of Mare Street and Victoria Park Road the Torch is released from the convoy and passed to the bearers

6.11pm  Torch travels on Mare Street and passes Beck Road

6.13pm  Torch travels on Mare Street and passes Hackney Community College

6.17pm  Torch travels on Mare Street and passes St Thomas Square

6.19pm  Torch turns left onto Reading Lane

6.21pm  Torch arrives and makes its way up the ramp to the top of the Town Hall stairs

6.26pm  Torch departs back onto Reading Lane and left onto Eleanor Road

6.29pm  Torch turns left into London Fields West

Hackney resident and Paralympic torchbearer Tim Rushby-Smith