‘On your marks’ for Olympic Torch Relay!

With a fortnight to go until the Olympic Torch Relay travels through the district residents and businesses are being encouraged to be prepared.

The journey of the Flame started today (Thursday 10 May) when the Hellenic Olympic Committee held the Lighting Ceremony of the Olympic Flame in Ancient Olympia. The Olympic Flame will arrive in the UK on Friday 18 May before setting out the next day from Land's End on the 70-day Olympic Torch Relay.

On Thursday 24 May, the sixth day of its journey, the Olympic Flame will come into our district from Gloucester along the A417. It will enter Hartpury at 9.20am and be carried through the village before getting to Corse and Staunton at 9.35am. The torch will then go on to Ledbury.

A leaflet has been sent out by Forest of Dean District Council to residents and businesses in Hartpury, Corse and Staunton and Upleadon to help them prepare for the relay. This leaflet is available on the council’s website at www.fdean.gov.uk/go/london2012.

For safety reasons there will be a rolling roadblock on the A417 meaning traffic travelling both ways will be held up at times so there will be some significant disruption.

Motorists using the A417 in this area on 24 May are being encouraged to think about how they will get to work, their children to school and how they will get to any appointments on that morning. Many of the roads in Gloucester will also be closed on that morning; the outer ring road will be open but most likely much busier than usual.

Leader of the council Cllr Patrick Molyneux said: “The Torch Relay is a once in a lifetime event for most of us and brings big opportunities to the villages it will travel through. Schools will be involved in the celebrations with many of the businesses on the route arranging special events too.

“Inevitably it is going to cause some disruption but we are working to minimise this. We hope residents will come and enjoy the event in the district with their families to give support to the torch bearers who have such inspiring stories to tell and to the communities of these villages.”

Further information on where to watch the torch relay and places to park will be released by the council next week.

Stay up to date by visiting www.fdean.gov.uk/go/london2012 or through following the council’s Facebook or Twitter pages.