Beware: the marathon is coming!

The marathon is here again – and Tower Hamlets residents need to prepare for a day of being under siege as we surrender our streets to runners and spectators. Sunday (24th April) is the big day, as over 30,000 competitors run round East London – with 11 miles of the 26.2 mile course in Tower Hamlets.

The marathon is a good example of the strange way we finance our society.

•Public finances are very tight and the Council is cutting back on vital services. However, Council Tax payers will be shelling out for the expense of preparing the Borough’s streets for runners and spectators – and clearing up after them.

•Because of the cuts, people are having to raise money for basic services on a charitable basis – by doing things like running marathons.

So we have the Council spending out on cleaning up so we can find money to make up for the Council not spending out.

It is not just about the money. When fair taxation funds services, elected politicians can prioritise spending. When charitable fund-raising has to rescue core services, poorer people tend to contribute more (as a proportion of their income) to charity – so these services are funded unfairly. It’s also the more popular causes that find more funding – so there’s more charitable donations given to breast cancer research than to incontinence laundry services. All these causes are important, but spending will be fairer if all services are considered together rather than anarchically, on the basis of what individual runners want to run for.

There’s a second way in which the marathon has distorted the delivery of services in Tower Hamlets. The Council has inspected some 12 miles of roads and pavements, “looking for things like broken railings, potholes and uneven paving which could cause injury to the runners or spectators.” Defects have been repaired – which is good news for residents in these areas, but leaves other parts of the Borough neglected.

The positive aspect of this year’s marathon is that junior hospital doctors and NHS campaigners will be distributing leaflets throughout the crowds of spectators. If you see them, give them your support!

This year’s road closures include Narrow Street, Limehouse Causeway, Westferry Road, East Ferry Road, Limeharbour, Marsh Wall, Trafalgar Way, Poplar High Street, Ming Street, West India Dock Road.

•For more information about the road closures, go to: https://www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com
or
www.towerhamlets.gov.uk

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