The London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay will pass through part of Filton early this Wednesday (23rd May) as part of its 70-day national tour.
Day 5 of the torch’s journey, which started at Lands End on Saturday, will see it travel from Bristol to Cheltenham and Filton residents will have a chance to cheer it on as it covers a short stretch of Southmead Road.
The torch convoy is expected to cross the South Gloucestershire boundary near BAWA at 9:05am and proceed up to the junction with Charborough Road (9:09am), from where the torch will continue by vehicle towards Chippenham.
An ‘activation convoy’, which includes a police escort and lead car, with activation vehicles from each of the Presenting Partners (Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung) giving out keepsakes, will pass through around five minutes ahead of the torch.
South Gloucestershire Council says a rolling roadblock system will be used along Southmead Road from BAWA to the junction with Charborough Road, closing this section of road from about 8:45am in advance of the arrival of the torch and reopening once the convoy has passed.
Delays should be expected between 8am and 10am and you are advised to plan accordingly and to allow extra journey time. There are also likely to be delays on some bus services.
More info: The Olympic Torch visits South Gloucestershire
Other parts of South Gloucestershire will be visited a day earlier, on Tuesday 22nd May, when the torch passes through Bitton, Longwell Green and Hanham on its way between Bath and Bristol.
Carrying the torch into Filton will be Corinne Day, of Bristol, whose nomination story on the official London 2012 website reads:
“For the 7.5 years I have been here Corinne has worked tirelessly on the charity committee to raise funds for our nominated charities. She not only helps organise, but fully takes part in ALL activities, including driving minibuses for the last three years on the Three Peaks Challenges and the Nailsea-Aberdeen cycle event, using holiday entitlement to do so.”
“The most important reason is the length of time that she has been an unsung hero, which is many many years, and I feel it is time she was recognised and rewarded for her dedication and commitment. She is also a Guide leader and does a lot of work for the Guides and her local church, all on her own time, and again for so many years.”
Meanwhile, the Bristol Post reports that a Filton man has been chosen to carry the torch through Lambeth on 26th July, one day before the London 2012 opening ceremony.
Cameron Fraser, 26, travels to London once a week for his job as a co-ordinator at the charity KEEN, which provides sports and recreational activities for children and young people with special needs.
He told The Post:
“I haven’t shouted about the Relay from the rooftops but it is going to be a great occasion and I hope everyone at the charity can come along and feel a part of it.”
Read more: Bristol charity worker named as 2012 Olympic Torchbearer
Ref: STPVJG6JTQJS
