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Olympic Access News

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The Olympic events will be coming through the borough on 28th/29th July and 1st August with some roads locally being affected for the testing of the time trial cycling route on 31st July. The final torch relay will be going down the river from Hampton Court on 27th July in the early morning so there may be additional traffic on the roads as people try to get to the river to watch starting from Hampton Court Palace. Richmond AID have been busy working with the Council and LOCOG to organise two disabled viewing areas in Teddington  for the Olympic cycle road race events.   Find out what you can do if you have a disabled parking bay along an Olympic route or have concerns about accessing services in the borough during the Olympics. Is there a neighbour who can let you park on their driveway or help you out with getting shopping or other essentials in for you on the 3 days that the roads will be closed and pavements very crowded.

If you are worried about how you are going to be able to get around the borough during the events, Richmond Borough Council’s Olympic Corporate contact centre will be open from 7am to 10pm between 26 July and 1 August to help handle enquires about the Olympic events in the Borough.

Please call the contact centre on:  08456 122 660 (if you get the options menu press 5 on your phone).

Transport for All have also launched a helpline to help people with access issues get around London during the Games period: 020 7737 2339.

  

Olympics – Key Information

If you have any kind of access issues you can use one of three planned sites for disabled viewing during the Olympic events. The two sites have been chose to allow access either side of Teddington Station for those exiting either on the Station Road side or on the Adelaide Road/Park Road side.

These are located at the following venues:

  • Twickenham – King Street
  • Teddington –  Outside the Police Station
  • Teddington – second viewing point running up to the brow of Teddington rail  bridge just up from the corner of Station Road/opposite Waldegrave Road.

 

What is the advice is for people travelling on wheelchairs and scooters?

The path and surrounding area where the Olympic event will take place will be extremely busy during the build-up to the events with many operational vehicles using it to set up an appropriate Olympic route. Guidance from the Council and LOCOG states that all spectators are advised not to use the road route the Olympic cyclists will be using for their own safety and to support this safety guidance in the build-up to the event.

LOCOG have asked that all spectators and residents who live on the route are requested to stay off the roads and cross at the designated crossing points. About 95% of the crossing points along the routes are at existing pedestrian crossings so that they already have dropped curbs and tactile pavements. All pedestrian crossing points will be staffed with Games makers who will be identified by their purple and pink outfits and will specifically be looking out for anyone who may need extra help or assistance. There will also be stewards along the entire route.

 

Access along the back of the crowds?

Olympic organisers aim to always keep a pathway clear, they have said that they are expecting a large number of spectators to be pushing bikes, prams as well as wheelchair users or those with accessibility requirements.  After raised concerns over access issues; Richmond AID were assured that all of the crowd stewards and Games makers are all trained to look out for anyone who might need assistance at any area and have training for assisting people with specific needs.  Staff will be monitoring these walkways  and keeping a pathway clear for the safety of all spectators and they have contingency routes and cordons in place if areas get too busy.

 

Disabled Parking Bays

People with disabled parking bays on the route or in surrounding streets will need to discuss with the Council what arrangements there will be for their parking and any alternative options that might be available. For disabled and older people who rely on help from family and friends who live elsewhere, they may also want to contact the Council to check if there are any special arrangements for the days when parking is suspended and roads are closed.

 

Olympic Events and access to the Disability Action & Advice centre.  (DAAC)

 

Fri 27th July

Olympic torch on river.  No road closures, but likely to be busy along river. Disability Action & Advice Centre  (DAAC)  will remain open on this day.

 

Sat 28th & Sun 29th July

Cycling road race covering large area from Westminster to Dorking.  Road closures along route from 4am on 28th and 6am on 29th.  Disruption along entire route. DAAC will be closed on both these days as normal for a weekend.

 

Tues 31st July

Cycling time trial rehearsal.  Disruptions likely across most of borough.  Rolling road closures within borough between 10am 12pm, including along Waldegrave Road.  Estimated to reach Teddington approx 10.30am   DAAC will remain open

 

Weds 1st August 

Cycling time trials.  Disruption on this day.  Roads across borough – including Waldegrave Road – closed from 10pm on 31st July, and will re-open evening of 1st August.  DAAC closed to the public