Dear Operator
The purpose of this e-mail is to
advise on Events/Traffic situations surrounding the Olympic Torch and the
ParaOlympic Flame Event in Suffolk from a Passenger Transport outlook.
The Route and times of the Torch
passing through Suffolk can be viewed through the following link:-
http://www.london2012.com/olympic-torch-relay-mapPlease note the Torch will be in two modes.--Torch Bearer and Convoy. Convoy is when the torch is being moved from A to B in a vehicle with outriders etc.
The Olympic Torch will first arrive
in Suffolk from the Great Yarmouth direction and into Lowestoft on the morning of
Thursday 5th July 2012.
There will be events
surrounding the Torch that morning in Lowestoft.
Operators can expect traffic delays
and demand for Public Transport should be considerable. Commercial bus
operators may need to consider capacity issues.
Beccles and Bungay will not be
visited by the flame.
The Torch will then travel through
Coastal Suffolk (Including Southwold, Wrentham, Saxmundham,
Leiston, Aldeburgh, Woodbridge and Felixstowe). Expect Traffic
Problems.
In the late afternoon and early
evening the Flame will be arriving in Ipswich and will travelling by boat
around Fox's Boat Yard area, the Orwell Bridge and into the Wet Dock. Ipswich evening of Thursday 5th July
2012.
Huge numbers of people are expected
in Ipswich that evening and there will be major celebrations centred at the
main event in Christchurch Park.
In the late afternoon early evening
Public Bus services and Park and Ride are expected to be operating normally to
bring people into the town. These services are of course very depleted for the
evening return, unless operators react.
The flame leaves early the following
morning and initially leaves Suffolk in the Colchester direction.
The Torch then comes back into the
County mid afternoon on
Saturday 7th July in
Haverhill.
Late afternoon Saturday 7th July the
Torch will be in Bury St Edmunds.
Much of the surrounding area will
not have a Torch visit. Towns such as Diss, Brandon and Thetford will not be on
the Torch route.
Commercial service bus route
operators may well need to consider capacity requirements on their
existing services.
District Councils are the local
'patrons' of the Olympic Flame. There may well be a Park and Ride organised for
this event by St Edmundsbury District Council.
Early evening events on Saturday 7th
July will be in Newmarket, where
a carnival will also be taking place.
Paralympics Torch event Evening of
Friday 24th August -Needham Market.
The Suffolk Para Olympic Torch event
will be at just one location -Needham Market lake.
This will be the major Suffolk
event held at this location. There may well be a number of visitors with
mobility difficulties. Public Buses do not operate in the area in the evenings;
access and practicality of the rail service to and from Needham Market is very
limited. At times Needham Market High Street will be closed as will Coddenham
Road (Railway Bridge) and other roads.
Suffolk County Council and
Suffolkonboard.com web sites are likely to be providing and collating
information relative to transport etc.
Operators are alerted to these
events:-
- To
be aware of potential traffic issues.
- To
be aware of Public Transport issues.
- Schools
may wish to hire vehicles to visit locations, in the North of the County.
- Demand
to hire vehicles which provide wheelchair facilities may be particular
great on Friday 24th August as well as the other events.
I hope this is helpful.
David Gibbs and Andrew Gee.
Senior Network Planners -Suffolk
County Council.
