With thousands of people expected to enjoy a series of major events in Edinburgh this weekend, residents, workers and spectators are being urged to prepare well for their journeys.
There will be road closures and travel disruption, especially in the city centre, during a big weekend for Scotland’s Capital which will see the Rolling Stones play Murrayfield Stadium and the MoonWalk take place on Saturday night, before thousands of people take part in PROCESSIONS – a mass participatory commemoration of women winning the right to vote – this Sunday afternoon.
People making journeys to and from these events and into the city centre on Sunday should check travel advice.
Councillor Lesley Macinnes, Transport Convener, said: “We want everyone coming to Edinburgh to have a great experience and a weekend to remember. For many others in the city, however, it will be business as usual and we want them to have as little disruption as possible. The event organisers have put an enormous amount of effort towards these aims, for which we are very grateful.
“We are encouraging everyone to plan their journey, build in enough time and to be flexible, especially as it is predicted that thousands of people will be in the city centre to enjoy the Rolling Stones, the Moonwalk and the other events on offer. On Sunday, the city will be particularly busy, as there will be diversions in place and additional congestion on the roads. Participants are strongly advised to plan ahead, expect diversions and use public transport or walk and bike, wherever possible.”
It is predicted that 10, 000 people and spectators will attend PROCESSIONS on Sunday. Councillor Amy McNeese Mechan, Vice Culture and Communities Convener, will be participating in the event. She added: “On Sunday, thousands of women and girls will unite in Edinburgh to process, carry banners and fly the flag for women’s rights.
“Together, we will commemorate the incredible perseverance and bravery of those women who fought for the right to vote and marched through the city’s streets. It will feel all the more poignant to walk along the same street Scotland’s suffragettes marched down over 100 years ago.”
Helen Marriage, Artistic Director and CEO or Artichoke, said: “This historic anniversary of the first British women getting the vote will be marked by women and girls in the four UK capitals walking together through the streets wearing the colours of the Suffragettes on Sunday 10 June.
“We are delighted by the support that we have received from the City Councils in Edinburgh, Belfast, London and Cardiff to help facilitate this once in a lifetime event. I hope that the thousands of women and girls who travel from all over Scotland and the North East of England to attend Processions will look back on this day, and be proud to say that they were there.”
The Council has provided extensive support to the organisers of both PROCESSIONS and the Moonwalk parades in trying to manage security and public safety issues and to manage disruption to public transport and traffic. Other smaller events taking place in the city this weekend include the Edinburgh Festival of Cycling, the West End Classic Car show and the Leith Festival Gala Day.
PROCESSIONS EDINBURGH : ESSENTIAL TRAVEL ADVICE
Please note that due to the nature of the event and the need to close roads for the PROCESSION to take place, the city will be extremely busy, there will be diversions in place and additional congestion on the roads. Participants are strongly advised to use public transport and to avoid driving wherever possible.
Starting Point: Middle Meadow Walk, The Meadows, EH9 1JY
(Those with a disability who are unable to undertake the full route may start their Procession at the junction of North Bridge and the Royal Mile)
Finishing Point: Queens Drive, Holyrood Park, EH8 8AZ
GETTING TO THE START
BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Lothian buses will be running on the day and some routes may be diverted. Please use their journey planner to plan your journey.
Edinburgh Waverley Station is the closest mainline station to the starting point (Middle Meadow Walk) and a 20 minute walk. Visit Scotrail for further service and station information.
There are seven Park and Rides operating in and around Edinburgh. Click here for further location details and for route information.
West End – Princes Street is the closest tram stop to the starting point (Middle Meadow Walk) and a 30 minute walk. Visit Edinburgh Trams for further service and station information.
BY CAR
There is no public parking provided for the event and we expect the city to be heavily congested. For those travelling from out of central Edinburgh, we strongly advise using the Park and Ride facilities on the outskirts of the city.
Parking is not permitted at the starting point.
There will be limited car parking facilities available but those who need to travel by car should make use of public car parking in central Edinburgh, taking the road closure arrangements into consideration and allowing extra time for their journey.
You can find parking bays in Edinburgh on the Edinburgh Council website: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/20085/parking_spaces/507/parking_bay_locations
Please remember parking will be suspended on the roads which will be closed on the day for the event.
BY COACH
There will be coach drop off points located on Melville Drive, EH9 1JY.
Please look out for stewards who will guide you to the drop off bays. Coaches should move off quickly after passengers have disembarked to make space for more coaches coming in.
Coaches can head to Regent Terrace (EH7 5BS), the coach pick up point, to wait until the end of the PROCESSION event.
GETTING HOME
There is no rally at the end of PROCESSIONS. Stewards and volunteers will be on hand to signpost you to the nearest transport links and the coach pick up point for your homeward journey.
Edinburgh Waverley Station is the closest mainline station to the end point (Queen’s Drive) and a 20 minute walk. Visit Scotrail for further service and station information.
York Place is the closest tram stop to the ending point (Queen’s Drive) and a 30 minute walk. Visit Edinburgh Trams for further service and station information.
The coach pick up point at the end of the route is on Regent Terrace, EH7 5BS, 15 minutes walk from the end point (Queen’s Drive).
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