106 JACK fm
- give us a bell on 01438 422106
- text us on 80010 starting your message 'jack'
- add JACK on facebook
- tweet tweet @106jack
Olympic Torch Relay Arrives In Hertfordshire This Weekend
The Olympic Torch relay is set to light up Hertfordshire's towns on July the 7th and 8th...
On Saturday July 7th, Torchbearers will be in Waltham Cross at the Olympic venue before heading to Hertford, Ware and Bishop's Stortford.The next day (Sunday July 8th) it will be Stevenage, Letchworth, Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield's turn; from where it will go from the town centre past the Galleria and to the University.
Don't miss JACK fm hosting parties in WGC and Hatfield town centres from 12-4pm with Steve & Jules bringing loads of entertainment as well as a chance to see the Torch.
Derrick Ashley, Chair of the Hertfordshire is Ready for Winners Partnership said: "The London 2012 Olympic Games brings a wealth of excitement to the county and the torch relay provides opportunities for communities to get together and celebrate not only the Games, but to show support for the achievements of local people chosen to run with the Olympic flame.
We are fortunate that the torch is visiting ten towns in the county, giving plenty of cause for celebration. All Hertfordshire residents will be within a few miles of the flame at some point during the weekend celebrations."
Olympic relay timings "at a glance..."
Saturday 7th July:
·Waltham Cross – 0850 start
·Ware – 1041 start
·Bishop’s Stortford – 1117 start
Sunday 8th July:
·Letchworth – 1120 start
·Stevenage - 1202 start
·Welwyn Garden City – 1341 start
·Hatfield – 1424 start (Hatfield House 1430 - there's public access to the park from 1330; University of Herts and Herts Youth Games 1530 – not public)
·St Albans – 1606 start
PLEASE NOTE: All timings below are approximate and you should consult the official London 2012 Torch Relay website for more details by clicking here.
The route of the 2012 Olympic Torch - Waltham Cross (Saturday 7th July):
The Torch Relay will arrive in Waltham Cross from Waltham Abbey at around 8.45am on Saturday 7 July 2012, travelling along Highbridge Street and Station Road, before turning right into the Lee Valley White Water Centre (LVWWC), Station Road, for an event.
The Torch Relay will depart the LVWWC at around 9.35am, turning right into Station Road, travelling along Eleanor Cross Road, Monarch's Way and the High Street.
The Flame will cease to be viewable at the intersection between the High Street and Monarch's Way, on the approach to Winston Churchill Way. The vehicle convoy will follow the same route, except that it will bypass the High Street via Monarch's Way.
Local residents will be able to get a good view of the Torch Relay from Waltham Cross High Street, between Hertford Road and the northern intersection with Monarch's Way, as well as on the southern side of Eleanor Cross Road and Station Road.
The route of the 2012 Olympic Torch - Hertford, Ware and Bishop's Stortford (Saturday 7th July):
The Olympic Torch Relay will be lighting the way through East Herts with torchbearers running through Hertford, Ware and then onto Bishop's Stortford on Saturday, July 7th.
Hertford's first torchbearer is due to run along the A414 London Road and into Fore Street just after 10am then along Market Street, Railway Street, South Street and back onto Fore Street before the torch is taken along the A119 Ware Road all the way to Cockbush Avenue.
Councillor Isabel Sigmac of the Council's Leisure Committee said: "Hertford residents will find lots happening in the town centre alongside the Olympic Torch relay on Saturday so I hope that people will stay in town after the Torch has gone through to enjoy themselves in our historic county town and support local businesses who are making the day very special."
The convoy then drives to the start of the Ware torchbearers' route outside Hertford Regional College at just after 10.30am, over the railway crossing onto Amwell End, the High Street, Watton Road and onto Westmill Road until its junction with Wengeo Way.
The procession is due to arrive in Bishop's Stortford at just after 11am outside the fire station on the Hadham Road, then Link Road, Hockerill Street, then the B1383 Stansted Road right up to the junction with the B1004 Michaels Road.
East Herts then says farewell to the torch as it passes into Stansted towards noon.
East Herts Council chairman Suzanne Rutland-Barsby said: "The excitement is certainly building and we're looking forward to welcoming the Olympic Torch to our district. At the same time we want everyone to enjoy the relay so please make sure you follow our advice about which roads to avoid driving down."
The roads along the route will be subject to a police rolling road closure before and during the relay and measures will be in place to remove any obstructions, such as parked cars.
People wanting to view the relay as it goes through the towns are strongly advised to leave their cars at home to prevent any build up of traffic along the route.
The route of the 2012 Olympic Torch - Letchworth (Sunday 8th July):
In North Herts, the flame will be arriving in Letchworth from the A507, starting on Norton Road at 11.18 am and ending on Pixmore Way at 11.54am.
One of the District's torchbearers is Philip Goodall, who has overcome severe learning difficulties, acute dyspraxia and being unable to speak to live life to the full. A keen athlete, Philip regularly takes part in Special Olympics and has won numerous medals.
He trains each week in the gym, swims in galas and competitions and attends a fitness club. Philip has been a section helper in the 1st Braughing cubs since 2006, maracas player in the Scout Band and valued member of his local church.
Philip told JACK fm: "I am proud to have been selected as a torchbearer. I am excited to be carrying the torch in Letchworth Garden City and I hope lots of people come to watch."
There will be live music from Garden City Chorus and string orchestra, and street entertainment on Eastcheap in the town centre from 10am.
Immediately after the Torch Relay has passed through Letchworth a procession will lead towards Howard Park and Gardens where the fun continues with giant inflatable attractions.
Thousands of people are expected to turn out to support this historic occasion so the advice is to arrive early. To ensure the safety of well-wishers in the Town Centre whilst the Torch passes through there will be a number of temporary road closures in place.
Eastcheap will be closed from 7.00am on Sunday 8 July as will any access for cars to Leys Avenue. The roads of the actual Torch Route will have additional parking restrictions (including Eastcheap, where parking bays will be suspended from Saturday evening, 7thJuly), and there will be temporary road closures of up to 30 minutes to allow the torchbearers to run their leg of the relay safely. Parking in NHDC town centre car parks will be free. Additional parking has also been provided at the Spirella Building off Icknield Way.
The route of the 2012 Olympic Torch - Stevenage:
(Sunday 8th July): Stevenage Old and New Towns will play host to the Olympic Flame, which torchbearing members of the community will carry on Sunday 8 July.
People will be able to welcome the Olympic Flame to North Road, the High Street, King George V Playing Fields and St George's Way, and celebrate the achievements of the inspirational torchbearers carrying the flame in their community.
There are lots of opportunities for residents to get out, see the spectacle of the Olympic Torch Relay, cheer on our torchbearers, and play their own part in London 2012. I’m looking forward to an exciting and historic day."
There will be a Food and Culture Festival happening throughout the day in the town centre, punctuated by the arrival of the Olympic Torch.
A cultural event will showcase and celebrate the variety of cultures that live in Welwyn Hatfield, in much the same way that the Olympics Games does.
Emma Boon from Wheathampstead, who's one of the Torchbearers, was nominated because of her voluntary work with the Scouting Movement.
She told JACK fm: "I'm very excited - I've had my parents saying they're coming to watch and my friends are looking forward to it.
I joined the Scouts when I was 14, before getting involved with the Beaver Scouts. Once I turned 18, I took more of a prominent role and now I'm training to become a fully-fledged leader in Leeds, where I'm studying at University."
Parking will be suspended along the whole of Parkway (Welwyn Garden City) and French Horn Lane (Hatfield) to enable the convoy to pass without issue. However, on the day parking in council car parks will be FREE to avoid additional queuing issues when people leave the towns. Overflow parking will also be available at Stanborough School and Sir Frederic Osborn School (Welwyn Garden City), and Onslow St Audrey’s School (Hatfield).
Only one formal road closure is planned at Stonehills, Welwyn Garden City to enable the town centre event to take place. However, Metropolitan Police Officers, travelling with the Olympic Torch Relay convoy, will be undertaking a series of rolling road closures to stop vehicles turning into the passage of the Olympic Torch Relay convoy. For example, in Welwyn Garden City, from shortly before and during the passage of the convoy down Parkway, entrance to Parkway from Howardsgate, Church Road, Parkfields, The Cloisters and Birdcroft Road will be temporarily suspended.
Due to the temporary road closures taking place, delays are expected. The Olympic Torch Relay will pass through the borough at a speed of 4mph, while it’s running. It is due to take around 40 minutes to make its way through each town; therefore, we expect tailbacks.
Councillor Helen Bromley, Mayor of Welwyn Hatfield, said: "We
don’t want anyone to be disappointed at missing the Olympic Torch Relay due to
delays getting into town, and if we can minimise delays for people leaving,
then that will certainly help too.
We want to ensure that everyone has a fun and memorable day…for the right reasons, not from being stuck in a queue!"
The route of the 2012 Olympic Torch - St Albans (Sunday 8th July):
The Olympic Flame will arrive in St Albans at 4.06pm. Torchbearers will carry the flame along the length of Hatfield Road from its junction with Charlotte Close (near Oaklands College, Smallford Campus). They will then take it across St Peter’s Street into Catherine Street, along Folly Lane joining Verulam Road before finishing near the Batchwood roundabout.
Along
the torch route, you can enjoy music, face painting and ‘Play in the Parks’ at
Fleetville and Oysterfields recreation grounds. Clarence Park has fun and games
with St Albans City Youth Football Club.
The fun continues at Victoria
Playing Fields with the Friends of Victoria Playing Fields organising lots of
activities and a community Cricket Match. There is judo, zumba, street
entertainment, music and lots more in the city centre.
The churches along the route are laying on celebratory events. Hatfield Road Methodist Church, St Paul’s Church and St Peter’s Church all have activities. St Peter’s Church is offering tours of the tower.
Mike Wakely from St Albans
City and District Council, said: "This is one of those historic moments for St
Albans and we are expecting lots of people to line the streets.
We have gone to
town on the bunting and there are flags designed by local children to wave as
we cheer the runners on. The Olympic Torch is due in the District from Hatfield
at 4.06pm, but there is plenty of fun and things to see all day, so people can
make a real day of it.
In the morning, the Freedom Parade* is taking place in the city, and with the Farmers Market, the Wheathampstead Village Day, and all the community events all over town, there’s going to be a real buzz. Make sure you get your spot early, crowds are expected."
For more information about the Olympic Torch relay in St Albans click here.
More from Local News
