Traffic warning over weekend protest

PEOPLE coming into Leicester this Saturday are being warned to expect traffic delays and parking disruption due to a planned protest march taking place in the city centre. Protestors opposed to the closure of the specialist children’s heart unit at Glenfield Hospital are planning to march on Saturday, October 29, from 11am to 1pm, on a route from Victoria Park to the city centre.

They are planning to meet at the Coach Drive in Victoria Park, off Granville Road, at about 11am and to set off at 12noon. The procession will march down London Road, along Granby Street, Gallowtree Gate and High Street, before arriving at Jubilee Square at about 1pm, where a rally is expected to take place. In order for the marchers to protest safely, road closures will be in place from 11.30am to 2pm. London Road inbound will be closed to traffic for a period of time, as well as the junction of London Road and Waterloo Way. Motorists will be unable to use Granville Road, London Road (citybound) between Granville Road and Waterloo Way, and Waterloo Way between St Georges Way and Regent Road.

In the city centre itself, no vehicles will be allowed Granby Street, Gallowtree Gate, East Gates, High Street or St Nicholas Place between 11.30am and 2pm. Advance warning signs will be put in place over the coming days advising drivers to use alternative routes on the day of the protest. Leicester City Council has been working with the protest organisers to arrange suitable traffic and travel arrangements, to help enable a peaceful protest and to keep the procession on the move along its agreed route.

Head of highways at Leicester City Council, Martin Fletcher, said: “We are expecting a large turnout for the event as the closure of the children’s heart unit is something that a lot of local people feel strongly about.  As a council we have a duty to enable demonstrations like this to take place safely, which in this case means a series of road closures while the protestors march through the city.”