Have the torch relays caused you much hassle, at work or going home? It comes through Oxford July 9th and thought I’d ask on our drivers’ behalf; We went to Stratford on Avon today, not realising it was coming through this afternoon but the road closures seemed well planned and we managed to get out of town before it came through.
Yes, I threw away a chance of a lifetime to see it, whoopie do but I bet the Oxford leg of this “amazing journey” will cause utter chaos.
Traffic cop stopped me at Gretna as it came through, got a birds eye view and a 45 into the bargain, unlike all joe public who had to put up with the wind and rain, so no complaints.
Is it going through Blackbird Leys? 
Suedehead:
Is it going through Blackbird Leys?
Yes, if it doesn’t get nicked!
truckerjon:
Suedehead:
Is it going through Blackbird Leys?Yes, if it doesn’t get nicked!
It’s certainly going along the Cowley Road and will travel part of the A4074 and A415 so it could well do!
They are using a rolling roadblock system and only close the road section they need and have the support of quite a few police motorbikes, well. They did today in Solihull. They only closed one road section and were coming through at 7-8am and the road closure was on for 7.30 to 8.30 and when it actually passed the crowds and convoy moved off pretty quick and the roads were re-opened.
Then again, having been through Oxford the roads are pretty busy anyway. I would have missed it but there weren’t many available to help the local Raynet group for a duty that early and short in the morning so I had an excuse to get up early on a Sunday then snooze away the late morning in a sunny quiet place 
Expect mega loads of marshals for the event, and for those radio buffs they use local radio systems. In Solihull they used the councils trunked radio system. The Police were jacked in to those freqs too but were also running their own comms as is expected.
Lots of money poured into this, brand new expensive liveried vehicles. Drivers so busy waving they nearly rear-ended a copper at one point…
Judging from the pubs between Shipston on Stour and Stratford setting up bbqs and outdoor bars, it must be a good moneyspinner; Lots of tat merchants in Stratford (tourists=easy pickings, except me) blocking the pavements too.
Personally I don’t get the excitement, it’s a bunch of dull sports that never get shown on tv at any other time.
Two of the expensive liveried motors mentioned above.
Notice the police car is not from Accrington where the photo was taken.
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It came through Rutherglen in Glasgow where I stay, and it never caused much of a problem. They used the rolling roadblock that Saratoga was on about earlier. I will imagine that it will be slightly different in or around London though.
It came through Thirsk last week, “unfortunately” I was at work 
I only just missed it coming through Nottingham the other day as well
The torch came down the next street to ours and one lad has a skip on his front. he was asked by the officials before the torch came down to remove it. They were duly to to do one. Its been the same throughout the city, people being told to remove their cars off the street, especially Warwick road past the football ground. There are residents parking bays there, half on the road half on the pavement style. Told to park elsewhere… F OFF
Muckaway:
Judging from the pubs between Shipston on Stour and Stratford setting up bbqs and outdoor bars, it must be a good moneyspinner; Lots of tat merchants in Stratford (tourists=easy pickings, except me) blocking the pavements too.
Personally I don’t get the excitement, it’s a bunch of dull sports that never get shown on tv at any other time.
Come on, it’s the only time that us old men can look at young girls in leotards. swimming costumes and tight fit shorts, and it’s legal!! 
C10HOO:
The torch came down the next street to ours and one lad has a skip on his front. he was asked by the officials before the torch came down to remove it. They were duly to to do one. Its been the same throughout the city, people being told to remove their cars off the street, especially Warwick road past the football ground. There are residents parking bays there, half on the road half on the pavement style. Told to park elsewhere… F OFF
Yeah suppose its abit to much to ask a few people to show abit of consideration for a once in a life time event isnt it. hardly a big ask moving a car for a couple of hours, ok a skip could be more problamatic but if i had one i would try my best to have it shifted for the relay.
had it through boston the other week, it bought boston to a standstill for an 1 hr. and the a16 from spalding was backed up to the kirton where it crossed the A17, that’s a good 15-20 drive…
Its coming through Bicester a week tomorrow, cutting my delivery route in two at the time i have my collections, the 2 that are on the torch route i’ve talked them into not shipping anything as there is no way i can get to them
I got caught up in it in Chesterfield on Friday lunchtime. Put me back about 45 minutes. The A617 going into Chesterfield was backed up about 3 miles and the whole of the town centre was in chaos.
The entourage travelling with the torch is far too big in my opinion. Must have been half a mile long!
It’s because they’ve got the advertising and sponsorship stuff coming through first, then a gap and then more stuff, so it is pretty spread out.
I got stuck yesterday by a long convoy of organisers and motorcycle outriders, they were preparing the route for Johnson Beharry at NMA Alrewas.
I would have sat there all day if I had known it was him!
AHT:
Yeah suppose its abit to much to ask a few people to show abit of consideration for a once in a life time event isnt it?
Hardly a life-changing experience though is it?
I heard that in Dumfries the police who were clearing the road were from the MET!!!. A chap asked to remove his van asked as the road at that point is wide why move it answer was so as someone else can park there you can imagine the reply and the van stayed.Also Karen Yuill’s wrecker and a smaller recovery motor was amongst the 61 following vehicles in the back up team which has armed response and chemical spill teams etc it must be costing a fortune and this is the country that is BILLIONS IN DEBT. Eddie.