Olympic torch is on its way

It's estimated that more than four million people have viewed the Olympic Torch relay already, with around half a million lining the streets in Yorkshire and Humber alone when it first arrived in the region last week.

Big crowds are expected to line the route in Rotherham this morning between 8.50am and 9.34am when torchbearers will take the torch all the way from Westgate in the town centre through to Thrybergh via All Saints Square, Clifton Park and Dalton.

Along with the relay, hundreds of school children will be in Clifton Park to cheer on the torchbearers and then take part in their own School Festival of Sport.

People coming along to see the torch are reminded that the torch relay has two 'modes' - convoy and torchbearer but only the latter one means the torch can be viewed. When the torch is in convoy mode it's actually carried by vehicles and isn't therefore visible.

Rotherham is in the fortunate position of having the torch in torchbearer mode (when it is actually carried by runners) for the vast majority of the route through the Borough.

A reminder as well not to encroach onto the road or path in front of the torchbearer. The relay is made up of various vehicles and motorcycle outriders as well as the Metropolitan Police Service Team who are running with the Torchbearer so for your own safety and that of the runners please take extra care as the convoy approaches.

When it first enters the Borough on Sheffield Road at Templeborough the torch will be in convoy mode as it enters and leaves the Magna Science and Adventure Centre.

It will first be seen by the public on the street from Sheffield Road, at its junction with Marsh Street at around 8.50am.

Visitors will be able to see the torch as its taken all the way along Westgate before the route turns on to Church Street (in between Imperial buildings and the Hamby's shop). At this point the convoy vehicles will head off down High Street but the runners will continue with the torch down Church Street (past Minster Gardens), round into All Saints Square (8.59am) then along College Street.

The torch bearers will then re-join the vehicle convoy at the junction of High Street, Doncaster Gate and Wellgate and run with the torch up Doncaster Gate to the gates of Clifton Park (9.03am).

Again the vehicles will then split off along Doncaster Road with the runners continuing with the torch through Clifton Park (along the path that goes from the main gates,then past the Cenotaph, Bandstand and the children's play area) before emerging from the park to re-join the vehicle convoy on Doncaster Road near its junction with Middle Lane.

With the torch still visible the runners will make their way all along Doncaster Road, past the Mushroom Roundabout and through Dalton and Thrybergh until the convoy reaches the junction of Doncaster Road and Chestnut Court (9.34am). This is the last point in the Borough where the torch will be visible as from then on it will be put back on the vehicles for a journey in convoy mode and it will not re-emege until its 'over the border' and into the Doncaster area (at the junction of Old Road and Doncaster Road, Conisbrough).

The Olympic Torch relay does mean there will be some minor changes to traffic arrangements around the town centre on the morning of the 26th June. Where possible we would encourage people to use public transport or alternatively use town centre car parks on this day as on-street parking is limited and some additional parking restrictions will be in force along the route itself.

The following road closures in the town centre will apply from 7.30 - 9.30am:

High Street

Church Street

Upper Millgate

Market Street

Bridgegate

 All other roads will remain open although some minor delays are expected where the torch relay convoy crosses junctions and roundabouts.

 The following parking bays are suspended between 5.00 - 9.30am:

 College Street - disabled parking bays

Doncaster Gate - on-street parking bays

Sheffield Road - on-street parking bays, south side between Old Sheffield Road and Westgate

Westgate - on-street parking bays, south side between Sheffield Road and Main Street

Clifton Park Museum - Car park closed

Clifton Park's car park, which is accessible from Doncaster Road, will be open but is expected to fill up very early due to the number of visitors.

 Parking restrictions are also in place between 5am and 10am along Doncaster Road in two sections on the side of the carriageway heading out of Rotherham. The first will be between its junction with Middle Lane and St John's Road, with the second on the stretch from the mini roundabout at the Mowbray Street junction up to the junction with Herringthorpe Valley Road.

The Tuesday town centre Street Market will also take place with its usual amazing range of stalls and goods on offer.

The Rotherham Schools Sports Festival being hosted at Clifton Park from 10am to 3pm.

Around 1,000 young people aged between five and 16 are taking part in a variety of events to celebrate all manner of sporting activities including:

 - track and field

- handball

- goalball

- hockey

- football

 

If you want to follow the Torch Relay across Britain and for full details of the route please visit the LOCOG website at www.london2012.com/torch-relay