200 days to prepare for Olympic Games

09 January 2012

With just 200 days to go before the Olympic Games begin, expectation is building for what promises to be a magnificent sporting summer in the capital. Amidst the excitement, however, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is urging residents and businesses to make sure they are prepared for the impact hosting the world's largest sporting event will have on day-to-day living in London.

Kensington and Chelsea will see lots of Olympic action including the torch relay, the volleyball competition at Earls Court, part of the cycle road race route and its own cultural festival on Exhibition Road.

These events, and others taking place in Hyde Park in nearby Westminster, will mean road closures, traffic diversions, parking restrictions and changes to local public transport.

Councillor Warwick Lightfoot, the Council's Lead Member for 2012, said: "It is very important that people who live and work in the borough are aware of the key dates and plan for the disruption that will occur."

"I would urge them to check out the information on key websites such as TfL and London 2012 as well as the borough's own website. While it is clear that the Games will be a magnificent sporting and cultural occasion the sheer scale of the event means that for a few weeks we will all need to plan ahead to minimise disruption to our daily lives and business."

The volleyball tournament at Earls Court will take place between Saturday 28 July and Sunday 12 August and 12,000 spectators are expected to attend each session, with three sessions a day for most of the fortnight.

The men's and women's road cycle races will come through Knightsbridge, Brompton Road and Fulham Road on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 July. This will mean roads in the borough and other parts of west London and out to Surrey, will be closed. While the event is free to view and will attract thousands of spectators along its route, traffic and bus routes will be affected.

During the Games, a fast-track road network called the Olympic and Paralympic Route Networks (ORN/PRN), will be created so that athletes, officials, media and others working at the Games can get to events on time.

TfL is responsible for ensuring this network operates effectively during the Games with the minimum of disruption for those who live and work in the capital.

The A4 from Earl's Court Road to Hyde Park Corner is part of this route and will link Heathrow to the Olympic Park and other competition venues in east London.

General traffic will still be able to use this part of the ORN and residents and businesses will still have access to their properties. However, to keep traffic moving on the route, TfL will make some temporary changes to the way roads in the area can be used.

The latest information on preparing for the Games and how to get around London while they are on can be found on the following websites.



Travel advice for business - http://www.london2012.com/get-involved/business-network/travel-advice-for-business/

Getting to the Games - http://www.london2012.com/getting-to-the-games

TfL Travel advice - http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/london2012/21787.aspx

Olympic Road Network - http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/18196.aspx