Massive security operation mounted ahead of Conservative Party Conference

A MASSIVE security operation is being mounted in Birmingham city centre ahead of the Conservative Party Conference.

The 2014 autumn conference takes place at the International Convention Centre (ICC). Starting on Sunday, September 28, the conference will run for four days until Wednesday, October 1.
 
This will be the 11th political party conference the city has hosted since 2008, and the final autumn conference to take place before the 2015 General Election.

The conference is expected to attract up to 14,000 delegates, bringing an estimated £17m boost to Birmingham’s local economy.

City partners Birmingham City Council, West Midlands Police and Marketing Birmingham have collaborated on the security arrangements, while the event is also providing business opportunities for local companies.
 
One of the firms capitalising on the security arrangements is Wolverhampton-based Zaun.

The firm is installing a temporary high-security fence around the ICC to create a ‘ring of steel’ similar to its operation at the recent NATO summit in South Wales.

The company has supplied temporary high-security fencing to all the main parties’ autumn conferences for a number of years.

It will also supply two special CCTV bases – one with a narrow-view camera and the other with a wide-view – to try to reduce further the number of officers needed to police events of this nature.

Zaun founder and director Alastair Henman said: “We integrated advanced electronics and top end CCTV as an add-on to existing security arrangements to help better cover specific strategic positions on the perimeter.”

Due to the high-profile nature of the event, temporary access restrictions will be in place in the immediate area surrounding The ICC.

West Midlands Police has said it will be working with key city partners to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum for the duration of the party conference.
 
All businesses on Broad Street, in Brindleyplace and surrounding areas will remain open as usual.
 
The traffic restrictions (see Map below) in operation during the conference are currently as follows:
 
Before Conference:
 
Wednesday September 24, 8pm to Thursday September 25, 2014, 5am
 
Broad Street (Paradise Circus to Gas Street) and Bridge Street (Broad Street to Canal Bridge) will have no vehicle access.
 
Bridge Street will remain closed until after the conference.
Broad Street will reopen with localised width restrictions.
 
Thursday September 25, 8pm to Friday September 26, 5am
 
Cambridge Street (Brindley Drive to Kingston Row) will have no vehicle access, except for residents to Civic Close.
 
Cambridge Street reopens with localised width restrictions.
 
During Conference:

From Sunday September 28, 5am
 
Full restrictions on Broad Street and Cambridge Street to be implemented.
 
After Conference:
 
From Thursday October 2, 5am
 
Broad Street and Bridge Street to fully clear and reopen.
Cambridge Street to reopen with localised width restrictions.
 
Thursday October 2, 8pm – Friday October 3, 5am
 
Cambridge Street (Brindley Drive to Kingston Row) will have no vehicle access, except for residents to Civic Close.
 
Cambridge Street to clear and reopen.
 
Waiting will not be permitted in any part of Bridge Street between 8pm, September 24 and October 1, 2014.

Road closures for 2014 Conservative Party Conference
 

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