Skip Navigation  |  Accessibility  |  Cookies  |  Legal Standard Text SizeLarge Text SizeLargest Text Size
This news item is over 3 months old and has been archived.

Olympic Torch Relay travel guidance

Coast 2012 Logo - be part of itAs the borough prepares for thousands of spectators to flock to the six towns and villages that the Olympic Torch will be passing through on Monday 18 June, Scarborough Borough Council is providing information and advice on travel and optimum viewing points for spectators and on road disruption for businesses and public services.

 

The Olympic Torch Relay convoy operates in two modes on its journey around the UK.  ‘Torchbearer’ mode is when the Olympic Flame is carried by Torchbearers and is visible to the public.  ‘Convoy’ mode is when the Flame is not visible to the public and the convoy procession travels through areas at normal road speed limits.  At some points, the Torchbearer splits from the main convoy of vehicles – these are planned arrangements and should not necessarily be viewed as the Torchbearer or convoy getting lost or going the wrong way.

 

An initial convoy of vehicles, known as the activation convoy, will arrive in the areas at any time between 30 minutes and an hour before the main Torch convoy arrives with the Olympic Flame.  The activation convoy will feature the main sponsors Coca Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung, which will be distributing free ‘keepsake’ type items to people lining the route and will help to build enthusiasm for the arrival of the Flame.

 

The following list details where and when the Olympic Flame will be in Torchbearer mode as it passes through our borough.  To avoid disappointment the council is advising people not to line the streets in between the areas listed because the Torch will not be visible.

 

Hinderwell

·         9.01am – Hinderwell Lane (from junction with West End Close) onto High Street, then Station Road (as far as the junction with Browns Terrace)


Lythe and Sandsend

·         9.14am – High Street (from Lythe town signs), Lythe Bank, Sandsend Road (as far as junction with Meadow Field)


Whitby

·         9.40am – Sandsend Road (from junction with Love Lane), Upgang Lane, Chubb Hill, Bagdale, Langborne Road to Whitby Railway Station (9.58am) where the Olympic Flame will then travel on a North Yorkshire Moors Railway train to Pickering in Ryedale (departing at 10.09am)


Scarborough

·         12.28pm – Columbus Ravine (from junction with Victoria Park Avenue), Peasholm Gap, to North Bay Promenade (junction with Open Air Theatre back access road)

·         12.43pm – Lunchtime stop at Open Air Theatre (invitation only event)

·         1.29pm – Burniston Road (from Open Air Theatre exit), Peasholm Gap, Royal Albert Drive, Marine Drive, Sandside (1.56pm), Foreshore Road, Valley Road, Ramshill Road, Filey Road (to junction with Queens Margarets Road, 2.14pm)


Filey

2.24pm - Scarborough Road (from Filey town signs), Station Avenue, Muston Road to Filey School (2.44pm)

 

It is expected that the largest crowds will gather in the centre of Whitby, along the north and south bays in Scarborough and in the centre of Filey.  However spectators will be able to see the Olympic Flame from all the streets listed above.

 

Cllr Derek Bastiman, Scarborough Borough Council’s lead councillor for London 2012 inspired events said: “There have been instances elsewhere in the country in the early days of the Relay where people have mistakenly thought that the Olympic Flame is visible at all times when it travels through a particular region.  Due to the amount of miles the Torch has to cover in its 70 days journey around the UK, this is not physically possible.

 

“However the Torch is visiting 1,018 communities across the UK and will have travelled within one hours’ distance of 95% of the population by the time it arrives at the Opening Ceremony on 27 July.  I encourage all our communities to line the streets where the Torch will be visible and celebrate our moment to shine.”

 

Rolling roadblocks will be in place in the areas when the Olympic Flame is in Torchbearer mode.  The council is advising businesses and any organisations that rely on vehicular access to these streets to take these temporary disruptions into account when planning deliveries, customer visits and essential business travel.

 

Spectators travelling to Hinderwell, Lythe, Sandsend, Whitby, Scarborough or Filey to see the Olympic Torch are encouraged to use public transport where possible.  Filey, Whitby and Scarborough are all serviced by trains and regular buses service all six areas.

 

Information on bus services can be found by visiting http://www.eyms.co.uk/ and http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/

 

East Yorkshire Motor Services (EYMS) is offering free travel for children under the age of 16 when accompanied by a paying adult on bus services between Bridlington, Filey and Scarborough (applies to the 120:X20, 121 and X21 services only).

 

For anyone who does need to travel by car, all Scarborough Borough Council car parks will be free all day on Monday 18 June.  A full list of car parks can be found on the council’s website http://www.scarborough.gov.uk/

 

Anyone travelling by car to Scarborough should note however that Lower Northstead, Upper Northstead and Burniston Road car parks will be reserved for people attending the London 2012 inspired celebration event at the Open Air Theatre and will not be available for spectators wishing to line the route.

 

Scarborough’s two park and ride services, operated by North Yorkshire County Council http://www.scarboroughparkandride.co.uk/ are also offering free bus travel on 18 June from the A64 and A165 car parks.  These services are ideal for anyone wanting to get into Scarborough to line the south bay section of the Relay route (i.e. Sandside, Foreshore Road and Ramshill Road) and for those wanting onward travel to the north bay, local connecting bus services are provided by http://www.eyms.co.uk/ (standard charges will apply).

 

All information in relation to the visit of the Olympic Torch can be found at www.scarborough.gov.uk/coast2012 or people can follow the council on Twitter @scarborocouncil or search using #coast2012

Search
A to Z of Services

Contact

Customer First
Town Hall
St Nicholas Street
Scarborough
North Yorkshire
YO11 2HG
Telephone: 01723 232323
Fax: 01723 506600
Scarborough Borough Council,Town Hall, St Nicholas Street, Scarborough, North Yorkshire. YO11 2HG
Customer First Contact Centre