The relay takes two modes when travelling, the convoy mode which is when the torch is carried by vehicle between destinations, and in Torchbearer mode when it is carried by the bearer through the streets – the bit you’ll want to see!

The Olympic Torch Relay will be coming into our district from Cirencester along the A419. The torch will enter Stroud at around 4.15pm and be carried through Stroud town centre, down London Road, past the four clocks and down Rowcroft before passing the new canal bridge and then along Merrywalks.

It will then turn into Beeches Green and make its journey towards Painswick to arrive at 5pm. It will then be carried through the town and make its way towards Cheltenham Racecourse, where the evening celebration event will be held.

The Torch Relay is a live event so slight changes to times can be expected.

For information on the entire Torch Relay route please see the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) web page: www.london2012.com/olympic-torch-relay-map

You can also view maps of the routes through Stroud and Painswick.

Where can I see it?

Stroud

The Torch will enter Stroud at around 4.20 pm, on its way from Cirencester, and be carried through the town centre, along London Road, past the Four Clocks, along Russell Street and down Rowcroft, before passing the new canal bridge and then being carried along Merrywalks. It will then make its way towards Painswick and on to an evening celebration event in Cheltenham.

Painswick

The Torch will enter Painswick at around 5.00 pm, on its way from Stroud, and be carried along New Street and Cheltenham Road. It will then make its way towards Cheltenham for an evening celebration event.

Turn up in plenty of time

We are expecting hundreds of people to come and watch this historic event, so please arrive in plenty of time. Some roads may be closed as early as 2pm in Stroud or possibly earlier and around 4.30pm in Painswick. SDC car parks in Stroud are free on the day, so if you’re driving, why not get here early, make a day of it and enjoy a relaxing coffee or a bite of lunch in one of the many cafes, bars and restaurants.

Celebrations

In Painswick church bells will ring and refreshments will be provided. The village has laid on a Festival of Games on the recreation ground starting at 5.30pm, just after the Torch passes through. Activities include sumo suits, gladiator duels and a tug of war. A hog roast will be laid on too, so come along and join in the fun.

Cheltenham Racecourse will be the venue for the Olympic Torch Evening Celebration. It is a free event and no tickets or booking are required. Doors open at 3pm and there will be special headline performance by LABRINTH. Find out more at www.cheltenham.co.uk/olympictorch

Parking and car parks

There will be no parking of vehicles along the torch relay route. Any unattended vehicles parked along the route may be towed away. Stroud District Council will be making its car parks free for the whole day, in Stroud and Painswick, to help minimise inconvenience.

Gather your neighbours, friends and family together and Line the Streets for the Olympic Torch Relay. There are plenty of tips and guidance in the Celebration Starters Guide to help people lead their local celebrations, including:

• Make some noise: Strike up the band, and get the crowd going with some music to help cheer the Flame on.
• Bring out the bunting: The Olympic Torch Relay is the perfect chance to get busy with bunting and add some colour to your street.
• Celebrate with snacks: Challenge your neighbours to create their own Flame-inspired recipes.
• Get dressed up: Stand out from the crowd with fancy dress, flame hats or golden clothes and face-paint.

People are being encouraged to make maracas and shakers, hang bunting, bake flame ‘cone-cakes', plant golden marigolds, dress up in gold and make some noise to welcome and celebrate the Olympic Torch. Downloadable toolkits, posters and save the date cards are available to help along the way on. Please see the Line the Streets webpage.

Local Leaders and community groups are already getting their neighbours, friends and family together to support their Local Torchbearer and show the world how proud they are of the place where they live. A many people as possible are being encouraged to sign up as Local Leaders at www.london2012.com/localleaders.

If the weather is warm and sunny for the torch relay, it's important to be sun aware and take sensible precautions.

• If you can, find a place to watch in the shade especially between 11am and 3pm when the sun is at its hottest. Cover up with a wide brimmed hat, sun glasses and a t-shirt.
• Take extra care of babies, children and teenagers. Young skin is more easily damaged. Keep babies in complete shade and provide shade for prams and buggies, if possible.
• Use a sunscreen with at least SPF 15 – the higher the better- and apply it generously and regularly.
• Most importantly, don't burn. Sunburn is a sign that your skin has been damaged.
• Remember to stay hydrated in hot weather. Drink cold drinks, like water or fruit juice regularly. Avoid tea, coffee and alcohol.
• The young and old are especially vulnerable to the affects of very hot weather. Symptoms of heat stroke can include headaches, dizziness, pale skin and vomiting. If you suspect someone may be experiencing symptoms, the advice is to move them to somewhere cool, loosen clothes and use a damp sheet or cloth to cool them down. If symptoms persist, seek medical advice.
• If you're planning to have a drink with friends and family to celebrate the torch relay, remember to drink responsibly. Drinking too much, too fast, and drinking to get drunk can put a serious strain on your body, and put your health and personal safety at risk.

Impact on NHS services

During the torch relay, traffic will be redirected by the police to enable the convoy to pass through safely. This is likely to lead to some congestion on a number of roads and may mean longer journeys.

We are liaising with local NHS services to minimise the possible disruption; but if you do need to visit the hospital or your GP for an appointment, sensible advice is to check your route before you travel and consider leaving longer for your journey.

Help on promoting your event

Stroud District Council provides a free ‘What’s On’ facility for organisations to advertise their events. This can be accessed at www.stroud.gov.uk/addevents. We would encourage organisations to use this site and to “tag” your event using the drop down available as an Olympic related event.

London 2012 Olympics and Olympic Torch Relay events can be viewed on our tourism website.

Closing the street for your event

For events that require street closures in relation to celebrations for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Olympic Torch Relay, Gloucestershire County Council has confirmed that fees will be waived and that they will be handling all requests for street closures. They can be contacted by e-mail at streetworks@gloucestershire.gov.uk, or call 08000 514 514.

Event safety advice

Planning and delivering a community event can be a very rewarding achievement. Like many such activities, there are some simple tips or rules which, if followed, can add significantly to the success of such a venture.

These links may help, although some of the documents are quite detailed:

• The Event Safety Guide: A guide to the health, safety and welfare at music and other events (The Purple Guide):
• Code of Practice for outdoor events
• Guide to safety at sports grounds (The Green Guide)
• Working together on firework displays
• Giving your own firework display
  

Schools across the UK can now access free learning resources linked to the Olympic Torch Relay through Get Set - www.london2012.com/getset - the official London 2012 education programme.

The activities are designed to help schools and colleges make the most of the Relay by lining the route, and cheering on their local Torchbearers. Resources include ideas for making Flame hats and shakers to welcome the Flame, an assembly presentation to get the school behind a Torchbearer and a film showing one Get Set network school's preparations for the Relay.

Schools can also be right at the heart of the celebrations through Lloyds TSB Flame Followers programme, giving them access to free resources to get their pupils inspired and excited about the Olympic Torch Relay. Schools can register at www.lloydstsb.com/flamefollowers

The torch relay will pass through our district from approx 16:15 on Wednesday 23rd May.

The police will be implementing rolling road closures along the route. Deliveries and collections from businesses along the route and associated roads are likely to experience disruption.

The roads along some sections of the route will be closed for some time before the torch arrives for safety reasons. However, access will be maintained for the emergency services and disruption will be kept to a minimum where possible.

The plan is to close the roads at any time from 2pm up to 15 minutes before the Torch passes through. The timing of the closure will be the decision of the Police based on crowds and other considerations on the day. The intention being to minimise disruption. Advice is to plan for disruption from 2pm.

A large number of people are also expected to see the relay and this will also increase the volume of traffic on the roads.

We advise businesses to prepare now by changing deliveries/collections. We will provide more detailed information in the weeks ahead directly to businesses and on this websites.

For information on road closures visit www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/olympictorchrelay

The Olympic Torch Relay and your business

The Olympic Torch Relay will be taking place close to your business on the afternoon of Wednesday 23 May. It’s a great opportunity to be involved in this once in a lifetime event – but, as a business, there are a few important things you need to think about...

• Staff
• Customers
• Deliveries
• Parking
• Visitors
• Waste

What’s happening?

The Olympic Torch Relay will be coming into Stroud from Cirencester along the A419. The Torch will enter Stroud at around 4.20 pm and be carried through the town centre, along London Road, past the Four Clocks, along Russell Street and down Rowcroft, before passing the new canal bridge and then being carried along Merrywalks (A46).

It will then turn left, up towards Beeches Green and make its journey towards Painswick (as part of a vehicle convoy) to arrive at 5pm to be carried through the village and make its way towards Cheltenham Racecourse, where an evening celebration event will be held.

• Route map - Stroud
• Route map - Painswick

Things to think about!

Roads along some sections of the route may be closed for some time before the torch arrives, for safety reasons. If you normally receive deliveries at this time you should think about making alternative arrangements in order to minimise disruption.

You should also make arrangements with your staff to cover how and at what time they come to and leave work, as travel will be disrupted. Visitors coming for meetings should also be informed and your staff may even wish to see the Torch Relay.

If you normally pre-arrange to see your customers, e.g. appointments for opticians and hairdressers, please advise them that they may be unable to access your business during the road closure, particularly if they are travelling by car or public transport.

Public transport
If your staff use public transport itʼ's worthwhile finding out in advance how their journey to and from work will be affected. Please visit transport company websites or contact them for more information.

Parking
There will be no parking of vehicles along the torch route. Any unattended vehicles parked along the route may be towed away. Stroud District Council will be making its car parks free for the whole day, in Stroud and Painswick, to help minimise inconvenience.

Commercial waste
If you normally have commercial waste bins or bags outside your premises you should remove them and if you are due to have a collection on the day, make alternative arrangements with your waste contractor.

Celebrating along the route
The whole route will be lined with spectators and many people will be arranging events. Depending on your type of business, this could be a great opportunity. If you are planning an event, please visit www.stroud.gov.uk/london2012

The London Olympics 2012 brand and logo are strictly protected. For example, use of the Olympic rings, the London 2012 logo, the Olympic and Paralympic emblems and the word ʻOlympicʼ is restricted.

The Olympic organisers are also very clear that ʻambush marketingʼ and the sale of unofficial goods to promote businesses, is not allowed. For more information visit: www.london2012.com/brandprotection

Security and safety
If you notice anyone acting suspiciously or see unattended bags or suspicious items speak to a police officer or ring Gloucestershire Constabulary on 101. Do not leave bags or belongings unattended, as it may cause an unnecessary security alert. If you see any suspicious activity or behaviour which could be terrorist-related tell a police officer or call the confidential Anti-Terrorist Hotline 0800 789 321. In an emergency call 999. Stay up to date by visiting:

• Download a printable leaflet - PDF

Evening celebration at Cheltenham Racecourse

Cheltenham Racecourse is proud to have been chosen as the venue for an Olympic Torch Evening Celebration on Wednesday 23rd May. This is a free event and no ticket or booking of any kind is required. A full range of drinks and food will be available. Come along, join the fun and witness this once-in-a-lifetime event!

View further details about the event over the coming months on the Cheltenham Racecourse website:

• www.cheltenham.co.uk/conference-and-events/whats-on/olympic-torch-celebration/

Stroud on Water 2012 Festival

A major event in the Stroud District to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the restoration of the Cotswold Canals is being held in the form of the Stroud on Water 2012 Festival which takes place from 2–4 June 2012.

• Visit www.stroudonwater.org.uk for more information.

Are you prepared?

Stroud District Council, along with other authorities in Gloucestershire are tasked with ensuring that any events that occur on the Diamond Jubilee weekend pass of safely and smoothly. It will be an exciting weekend and we're keen to make it easy for people to celebrate the occasion and keep the district moving.

Local communities are being encouraged to be part of this ‘once in a lifetime event' by organising celebratory events or gatherings of their own. We need to put together a picture of what is happening across the district so that we can help and minimise local disruption. So, if you are a sports club, school, community group or other organisation and are planning on holding an event to celebrate, we need your help. Let us know if you have anything planned.

If you do have any plans we would be very grateful if you could notify us with outline details by email to either: jane.bullows@stroud.gov.uk or kevin.ward@stroud.gov.uk.

• Organising a street event factsheet - PDF

Please note: For events that require street closures on the 2-5 th June 2012 in relation to celebrations for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, Gloucestershire County Council has confirmed that fees will be waived and that they will be handling all requests for street closures. They can be contacted by e-mail at streetworks@gloucestershire.gov.uk, or call 08000 514 514.

Further information on the Queen's Diamond Jubilee can be found on the DirectGov website at:

• www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/Features/DG_WP200687

Stroud District Council provides a free What’s On facility for organisations to advertise their events. This can be accessed at www.stroud.gov.uk/addevents. We would encourage organisations to use this site and to “tag” their event using the drop down available as a Diamond Jubilee related event.

Queen's Diamond Jubilee events can be view on our tourism website.

Stroud District Council is offering a one-off grant scheme to support not-for-profit organisations and schools to bring people together to enjoy, have fun and celebrate the Olympic Torch Relay and Queen's Diamond Jubilee. We will award grants of between £100 and £1,000. There is £30,000 available for this scheme. If you are successful your grant must be spent by midnight of 5th June 2012.

We do not wish to prescribe what activities will take place within your event, however they should celebratory and bring people together. The funding can be used for a range of purposes to support your event, including small items of equipment, professional artists/coaches or management fees, commissioning new work in art-form. Applications should attract other sources of funding, either financial or in-kind.

This scheme is open to not-for-profit organisations and schools within the Stroud District for community focussed events or projects.

Deadline: Sorry now passed

Organisations Who Received a Grant

• List of Organisations Awarded a Grant - PDF