Get ready - here come the Games - Olympic round-up in the Royal Borough

Make sure you are ready when the Olympic and Paralympics Games arrive at Eton Dorney on Saturday 28 July.

That's the Royal Borough's message as it continues to work full-out to make sure that local residents and businesses can make the most of the benefits brought by having the Games on our doorstep - with the minimum possible disruption.

With 25,000 extra visitors arriving every day for the Olympics and 10,000 for the Paralympics (28 July to 11 August and 31 August to 2 September respectively) local people are bound to notice some difference during Games time - but the council's advice is that, with a bit of advance personal planning, the impact can be managed and kept to the absolute minimum.

From keeping traffic moving to making sure waste is collected on the right day, making special parking arrangements and ridding streets of rogue traders - the council has put residents and businesses a firm first in its Games-linked thinking and planning.

Cllr Simon Dudley, cabinet lead member for the 2012 Games, said: "We are delighted to be part of this the Greatest Show on Earth - and to make our mark in the history books for our contribution to making it an event the country can be proud of. However, our top priorities as always are our local residents and businesses and we continue to work tirelessly to put their interests first."

Keep up to date with all the traffic and travel news
Visit the council's website to keep up to date with the latest local news during Games time at www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/london2012.htm

For all other information about travel to and from any of the Games time events here and elsewhere plus information on where drivers can expect to encounter traffic delays or diversions go to www.getaheadofthegames.com

Transport
A special transport hub at Windsor Racecourse, together with some temporary parking controls and other traffic management measures, are key to plans to keep the Royal Borough moving during Games time. Shuttle buses will take spectators from rail stations at Maidenhead and Slough and from Windsor & Eton Riverside to the hub and from there they will be able to reach the Eton Dorney venue. River ferry services will also run from Windsor only.

For those who do drive, temporary park and ride sites will open at Windsor Great Park, Stafferton Way and Braywick Park in Maidenhead, and at Upton Court Park in Slough.

Traffic management
The Olympic Route Network (ORN) to help athletes and officials get to the venue on time does not run through the Royal Borough. However, temporary local traffic arrangements will be in place to facilitate easy access for spectators. These include:
0 preventing vehicle access from the A308 to Gallys Road, Smiths Lane, Vale Road and Parsonage Lane from 7am to 5pm during the Games
0 no right turn into Mill Lane (access from Stovell Road) during event days
0 temporary No Stopping on the A308 between Windsor and the Braywick roundabout, and on other roads near the venue including the A4 Bath Road, Marsh Lane, Court Lane and Lake End Road.

Parking for local residents only
Parking in specific areas around the Games transport hub at Windsor Racecourse and at Eton Wick will be for local residents only who have been issued with special council parking permits. Spectators from outside the borough coming to the event will not be able to park there and are being instructed to travel by public transport and from the park and ride facilities.

Other zones will be 'advisory' where people are being encouraged not to park and no residents' permits are needed.

Hurry up and get your special parking permits
If you live in one of the areas protected for local parking and have not yet got your special permit you need to get it by Saturday 21 July. To apply go to parking@rbwm.gov.uk or call 01628 683800. After that date you may still be able to get a permit for last minute medical care or trading needs.

You do NOT need to apply for a permit if you have off-street parking and do not park your vehicle on the highway.

Take a hike - or a bike
By far the healthiest way for local ticket holders to get to the rowing and canoe sprint events is on foot or by bike.

The Royal Borough has been working with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG), Sustrans and neighbouring local authorities to upgrade the walking and cycling routes to the lake to make them easier and safer to use.

Many of the routes coincide with the National Cycle Network - well used by local residents for everyday travel and for leisure - so the improvements will deliver a lasting legacy for the area.

The route from Maidenhead town centre runs along the newly-resurfaced Green Lane to Hibbert Road and into Bray where cyclists have been given an exemption to the No Entry restriction between Ferry Road and Old Mill Lane. The route between Old Mill Lane and Monkey Island Bridge has also been resurfaced, connecting to another resurfaced path on the north side of the river as far as the rowing lake entrance.

This route will also serve the temporary park and ride site at Stafferton Way for spectators who wish to park and cycle.

Walkers and cyclists travelling to the lake from the east and south will have their own entrance to the transport hub at Windsor Racecourse and there will also be a signed pedestrian route from Windsor and Eton Riverside Station. Temporary cycle parking will be provided at both the transport hub and northern spectator entrance.

At the end of the events each day spectators will have the option of walking back to Windsor along the north side of the Thames following the 'Games Walk' art trail which is being developed by the Fire Station Arts Centre in Windsor.

Earlier waste collections
During Games time waste will be collected on the same day - but at an earlier time. This is because:
0 traffic management around the transport hub of Windsor Racecourse means no kerbside collections will be possible between 7am-7pm
0 the Stafferton Way park and ride is close to the borough's waste transfer station, so the trucks need to be up and away before the first spectators of the day arrive.

Bins must be out for collection before 5.30am on normal collection days so it may be more convenient for residents to out them out the night before.

The civic amenity site at Tip Road, Maidenhead, will have restricted opening hours (9am to 4pm daily during the Games).

Send the council your Olympic moments
If you are lucky enough to have tickets for any of the Olympic or Paralympics events the council would like you to share your memories of the moment. Send any comments or photographs to anne.dackombe@rbwm.gov.uk

Online information
0 Local information about the 2012 Games at Eton Dorney is at www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/london2012.htm
0 Full traffic and parking information is available online at www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/london2012_traffic_parking.htm.
0 For information on waste collections visit www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/32906.htm

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