The Council is calling on Bath businesses to come together to help ensure the Olympic Torch Relay has a smooth route through the city on Tuesday May 22nd.
Traders, including retailers, guest house owners and restaurateurs, are invited to a meeting in the Brunswick Room, at The Guildhall, on Wednesday April 18, at 2.30pm, to hear about the Council’s plans to minimise the impact on businesses and to identify and discuss potential issues that may need looking at.
Cllr David Dixon (Lib-Dem, Oldfield), Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the city, and Bath & North East Somerset Council is keen to get as many local businesses involved as possible. However we’re also aware that the Torch Relay is coming through the city on a weekday and at a potentially busy time of the day, so it is important that we explain our plans to everyone.”
Bath Business Improvement District manager, Andrew Cooper, said: “We need as many businesses as possible to engage with the Council at this event to ensure practical solutions are found to accommodate the Torch Relay through Bath. We know that it will cause some disruption but by working together we can minimise the impact on the working day.” He added: “It is a fantastic once in a lifetime experience for the city and it is really important that we as businesses can help to make it so.”
Lynda Deane, the Council’s Lead Officer for the Olympic Torch Relay, will be available on April 18, to help traders to consider the potential impact on their business, including:
- Collections and deliveries
- Road closures
- Parking suspensions
- Travel arrangements in and out of the city for visitors and staff
- Waste collections
- Mail deliveries.
In addition, she will be discussing the Council’s plans to celebrate the Torch Relay, including dressing the city to welcome the Torch and the World Record Attempt to make a giant set of Olympic rings in Royal Victoria Park with 5,000 people.
Any business interested in attending the Guildhall meeting on April 18, should register with Jo Stone via email: [email protected] or call 01225 396082.
