Our new Olympians must keep their playing fields

This summer, we will learn whether London's bid to host the 2012 Olympics has been successful. The blueprint as published last year contained much that was admirable. There was a spirit of energy and verve, a real sense of celebrating the city and an evident desire to leave a legacy of first-rate sports facilities, transport and housing. Now we understand that transport plans have been revised to improve coach access, which will necessitate covering a large area of the Hackney Marshes with tarmac. Many playing fields will be lost.

This is a sacrifice too far. Too many city sports fields have already been claimed for building or roads in recent years. It is also a promise - given by the Mayor of London - betrayed. No more green space should be lost. The alternatives must be reviewed. In the unlikely event that none is judged practicable, the British Olympic Committee should be required to make a downpayment sufficient to restore the fields, not within the two years it has proposed, but as soon as the Games are over.