Imagine Russell Square and some adjacent streets being totally closed to traffic for five weeks during the summer peak.  Quiet? Peaceful? Deserted?  No, no, no!  It'll be packed with some 5,000 journalists jumping on and off around 70 coaches an hour heading to and from the Olympic Village (village!) in Stratford and other Olympic Venues around London and beyond.

In a planning application received by Camden Council, plans are revealed for the closure of three sides of the square to general traffic and to designate the fourth, Southampton Row, as an Olympics-only lane linking to all the venues.

"Shuttle buses will travel to and from the Olympic venues and accommodation at regular intervals, seven days a week, 24 hours a day. The media transport hub will be managed by London 2012 team members... Exact operational details will be confirmed nearer the time."

But hang on a sec...  Closed for FIVE weeks? The Games run from July 26 to August 12. That's only TWO weeks.  The Olympic organisers are asking for an extra TWO and a bit weeks from July 10 for the installation of bus stops and checkpoints.

Local access at peak times will be through checkpoints, and motorists may need special permits.  Some pavements will be restricted.

Russell Square: if your name's not on the list you're not coming in, or passing through.

The Paralympics begins a few weeks later on 29th August with the closing ceremony on 9th September.  Will Russell Square's cordons remain in place until then?

To compensate locals for the severe inconvenience, Camden are offering to pay residents to go on holiday somewhere nice.  That last bit's a joke - a bitter one.

Your local councillors will be pleased to hear what you think.  And, as with all planning applications, you can make comments.

www.camden.gov.uk

It's going to be a mess - unless you're an Olympian.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/corporate/Great_Portland_Street_Station_to_Temple_Place_Map_C.pdf

http://www.london2012.com/olympic-route-network/maps/orn-overview.pdf

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/18196.aspx

This article was updated 22.11.11