The Olympic Games will cost Kingston nearly half a million.

The borough will have spent £454,000 on all Olympic-related activities including road repairs, new CCTV cameras, brochures, staffing and cultural events by the end of the year.

Kingston Council said £340,000 came from taxpayers, with some of it coming from the ring-fenced budget for sport development or leisure.

A council spokesman said: “In agreeing to the Olympic cycle races coming into the borough, the council accepted it would need to invest some resources to make the events successful.”

Jerry Irving, chairman of Kingston Chamber of Commerce, said: “It looks like a lot of money being spent, but the Olympics is a once in a lifetime event and it is the first time it has come to Kingston, so I would say it is money that is well spent.

“If we can put on a great show then we would attract more visitors and businesses to the area and that would leave a positive legacy for the future.”

The council plans to spend £324,000 on activity relating to the Olympics between April 2011 and December 2012.

The London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Locog) will pay an estimated £90,200, to remove street furniture from the cycle route.

Kingston University has also been commissioned to carry out a study to measure the benefits of hosting the games.

Opposition councillor Priyen Patel said: “The Olympics will be a great event for Kingston with many events and activities taking place.

“I hope the money spent by the council will have some lasting effect for the borough.”

Nearly £8,000 has also been spent on promoting cycling ahead of the Games.

Where the cash has gone

£26,000 on Kingston’s cultural programme activities.
£15,365 supporting volunteering.
£31,000 on communications, including a souvenir brochure to every house.
£6,150 in communications to businesses to help them plan ahead.
£3,500 towards an economic impact study.
£138,215 on operations including road
repairs, street cleaning and waste disposal.
£58,700 on extending CCTV.
£7,975 promotion of cycling.
£53,200 to improve the town centre – money that came from Locog.
£77,288 on a project officer post from April 2011, as well as on weekend and out-of-hours staff costs during the Olympics.  
£17,000 on emergency planning staffing.

Click here for more on the Olympic torch relay through Kingston