City centre braced for major disruption as thousands head for political rally
PUBLIC transport users in Birmingham city centre have been warned about potential disruption during a major political rally at this weekend’s Conservative Party Conference.
As many as 20,000 people are expected to attend the anti-austerity march being held by the TUC on Sunday to coincide with the start of the conference at the International Convention Centre.
Transport for West Midlands said that a result of the rally the following roads were being closed to traffic between 9am – 6pm:
· Priory Queensway Moor Street Queensway to Corporation Street
· Colmore Row at Newhall Street Junction
· Moor Street Queensway, Moor Street to Albert Street.
· Park Street, Jennings Road to Moor Street.
The following bus services are affected:
Service 22, 23, 24, 29, 82, and 87 will terminate at Livery Street near Colmore Row and not serve Snow Hill, Priory Queensway, Moor Street Queensway, Passengers in Priory Queensway and Moor Street Queensway. Passengers should be directed to Colmore Row
Service 14, 55, 56, 66, 70, 72, and 94 will terminate at the outbound stop in Priory Queensway
Service 33, 51, X51, 52, 65, 67, 904, 905, 907, 914, 934, 937A, 997 will be diverted via Newton Street, Corporation Street, Priory Queensway, Moor Street Queensway and Albert Street
Service 16 will not serve Snow Hill Queensway, Priory Queensway, Moor Street Queensway and Smallbrook Queensway and will terminate at Priory Circus
Drivers have been warned to look out for passengers transferring from services 74 in Constitution Hill.
Service 61, 63, X64, 80, 98, 99, and 126 will terminate at TK Maxx. Smallbrook Queensway
Service 45, 47 will terminate at Upper Dean Street.
Services 2, 3, 5, 6, 17, 31, 35, 37, 50, 60, 97, 900, 957 will terminate at or near Moat Lane and High Street Digbeth
Midland Metro services will terminate at Bull Street between 10.30am – 3pm.
Jon Hayes, head of network delivery for Transport for West Midlands, part of the West Midlands Combined Authority, said: “We would advise passengers to check before they travel and allow extra time for their journeys as Birmingham city centre is likely to be extremely busy.”
The rally will start at 11.30am in Victoria Square where the speakers will be Dave Prentis, UNISON general secretary Tim Roache, GMB general secretary, and writer and broadcaster Owen Jones.
It will then set off along New Street, High Street, Carrs Lane, Moor Street Queensway, Masshouse Gyratory, Park Street and end in Eastside Park.
