Wirral prepares to welcome Olympic Torch (From Wirral Globe)

Wirral prepares to welcome Olympic Torch

11:10am Thursday 31st May 2012 in News By Stephanie Cureton

PREPARATIONS for the arrival of the Olympic Torch in Wirral are in full swing as the big day fast approaches.

The Olympic Torch Relay will make its way to Wirral tomorrow, Friday, June 1, and residents are being advised to plan ahead to make the most of the special occasion.

Former Spice Girl Mel C and the borough's Olympic Gold cyclist Chris Boardman have been confirmed as torch bearers. The Olympic Flame is due to exit the Kingsway (Wallasey) Tunnel at around 5.45pm travel around Birkenhead – via Birkenhead Park and Hamilton Square – before leaving by Mersey Ferry for Liverpool.

Wirral Council is holding a free sports and fitness festival in Birkenhead Park to welcome the Torch Relay to the borough.

Traffic restrictions will be in force on the day to allow the safe progress of the torch and to enable the event in Birkenhead Park to take place.

This includes the temporary closure of Ashville Road, Birkenhead, to traffic from 7am to 7pm, and the closure of Ferry Approach Road, Woodside, at its junction with Chester Street, from 5pm to 7pm.

Residents and businesses living along the route are warned to expect some disruption to normal traffic flow on the day.

Commuters should also be aware that the Torch is due to reach Wirral during rush hour.

The earliest people will be able to see the torch is around 5.50pm when it reaches the junction of Dock Road and Duke Street, - it will be in convoy mode until that point so not visible to the public.

It will then be carried by specially nominated torchbearers along Duke Street, Park Road North, Park Road West and Ashville Road, before entering Birkenhead Park.

After exiting Birkenhead Park it will then be carried through Birkenhead Town Centre and through Hamilton Square, before being taken across the River Mersey from Woodside by Ferry.

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