Plea on parked cars for Olympic Torch day in Sandwell
Published on 7th June 2012
People living along the Olympic Torch Relay route in Sandwell are being asked for their help in keeping key roads clear of parked vehicles on the day the Flame comes to the borough.
The torch will pass through Oldbury, West Bromwich and Smethwick on Saturday 30 June between around 5.49pm and 6.55pm.
Councillor Ian Jones, Sandwell Council's cabinet member for neighbourhood services, said: "This is a once-in-a-lifetime event and we very much hope residents will come outside to cheer the torchbearers along as the eyes of the world fall on Sandwell for this historic moment.
"There will also be three free public events on 30 June that will give a good opportunity to celebrate and we encourage people to attend these."
The events will be at Oldbury Civic Square from 2-6pm; Sandwell College, West Bromwich, from 2-6pm; and Victoria Park, Smethwick, from 12-7.30pm.
Councillor Jones added: "We are working closely with the police and Centro to keep any disruption on our roads to a minimum.
"Like many urban areas across the country, for safety and security reasons, we need to ask people not to park along the left hand side of the route as the Torch Relay approaches the borough and makes its way through Oldbury to West Bromwich to Smethwick on its way to Birmingham."
The 'no parking' order will apply to both sides of Smethwick High Street between Newlands Green and Claremont Road.
Councillor Jones added: "We will be writing to residents in affected streets as soon as our traffic management plans have been finalised and putting up temporary signs to make sure everyone is fully aware of the 'no parking' order that will be in place from 10am-8pm on 30 June.
"We thank local people in advance for their co-operation.
"We are looking to make alternative parking available for affected residents wherever possible and will provide them with details when we write to them.
"As a last resort, the council will have the power to tow vehicles to a safe location if they are left on the route and we cannot find the owner to move it - but this really should not be necessary if everyone follows the advice we are giving out.
"We would ask anyone with a disability who usually parks on the route to email us at info@sandwellfor2012.co.uk or call 0845 358 2200 after the Bank Holiday weekend for further advice."
At his cabinet advisory team meeting on 8 June, Councillor Jones is set to approve temporary powers to enforce the 'no parking' order as a last resort.
Details of temporary road closures affecting a small number of streets on 30 June will be announced shortly.
Roads affected by the 'no parking' order - on the nearside as the Torch Relay travels from Oldbury-West Bromwich-Smethwick - are:
- Birmingham New Road/Wolverhampton Road (from Burnt Tree Island to Birchley Island)*
- Churchbridge*
- Halesowen Street
- Church Street
- Bromford Road
- Bromford Lane
- Moor Street
- Price Street
- West Bromwich Ringway
- High Street - from junction with West Bromwich Ringway/Bull Street through to Birmingham Road
- Birmingham Road to its junction with Beeches Road
- Birmingham Road - from its junction with Beeches Road to Junction 1 of M5*
- Kenrick Way*
- Telford Way*
- Tollhouse Way*
- Smethwick High Street - from junction of Tollhouse Way/High Street opposite Rolfe Street Station to junction of Regent Street/High Street*
- Smethwick High Street - from junction with Regent Street through to Cape Hill
- Cape Hill
- Dudley Road
*In the sections of the route above marked with an asterix, people will not be able to see the Olympic Torch as it will be travelling inside a vehicle in 'convoy mode'.
People can find out more about the Olympic Torch Relay in Sandwell and how the borough is celebrating the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games at the Sandwell for 2012 website and on this website.