We should remember that the Olympic Legacy is already evident in Forest Hill with the opening of the East London Line Extension.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4016385.stm
[quo=BBC]The link is seen as crucial in assuring the International Olympic Committee London's transport infrastructure could cope with the demands of the Games. [/quote]

Now we probably know better, but that does not change the fact that Ken put regeneration ahead of sport in London's Olympic bid. As a result London has gained more public investment than other regions for the first time in a while.

And whilst land prices may have increased across East London, it is still cheaper than West London and there is plenty of room and low prices in our increasingly empty Northern towns.

But rather than (or perhaps as well as) criticising spending on the Pope's visit or the Olympics we should consider the £4.5billion price tag for the UK of the war in Iraq, or a mere £3.5m spent on the Diana memorial fountain, or £100m on BBC 6 Music and BBC Asian Network.