Road closures planned when tall ships take to water

Jun 25 2008 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

DOZENS of roads are to be closed and others made “red routes” as Wirral prepares for hundreds of thousands of visitors wanting to see the Tall Ships next month.

Extra parking wardens will be drafted in and council employees based in Wallasey, where most visitors will expect to get the best views of the ships on the Mersey, are to be advised to take holidays or work flexibly to limit traffic.

The Tall Ships will be on the Mersey between Friday and Monday, July 18-21.

It is one of the major highlights of Liverpool’s tenure as European Capital of Culture, as more than 70 vessels from more than 30 countries, will assemble along the Albert and Wellington docks.

Liverpool’s role as Host Port for the start of the 2008 races will reach its climax on Monday, July 21 when the fleet perform the Parade of Sail from 2pm. It is this day Wirral Council expects to be the busiest.

A report to the council’s ruling cabinet this week says the authority is planning for “potential visitor numbers of 200,000 people” lined along the promenade which stretches from Seacombe to New Brighton.

The Parade of Sail is scheduled to take place between 2pm and 4pm on the Monday, however, ships will begin to assemble in the river from around 9am.

A newsletter containing travel and event information and a help line number will be sent at the beginning of July to all local residents likely to be affected.

A report by David Green, Wirral’s director of technical services, said: “Services and entertainment will be available throughout the day to encourage visitors to come early in the day and to stagger their departure in order to ease peak time pressure on the transport network.

“Fifty temporary toilet units including disabled provision have been secured and will be distributed at strategic points along the Promenade.”

Mr Green added: “It is also important bearing in mind the relatively narrow roads that lead down to the promenades where prime viewing is available that some traffic restrictions are put in place in these roads and that on the main distributor network a “red route”, no parking policy be invoked particularly to protect the routes of main bus corridors and to assist emergency services.

“The overall emphasis to be generated through the media is that visitors should try and use public transport wherever possible.”

The report says designated “red routes” with no waiting cones will be the responsibility of Merseyside Police to enforce, “though discussions are ongoing in relation to the provision of car lifting/removal services”.

This week the cabinet is expected to approve plans to close 50 roads, mainly in Wallasey, plus several in Birkenhead, leading down to the river with “Temporary Prohibition of Driving” orders made for July 21 from 8am to 6pm.

The cycle route along the promenade has also been recommended for closure that day.

liammurphy@dailypost.co.uk

List of roads planned to be closed in Wirral >>>