Local plans published to help residents and businesses ‘Get Set for the Games’

A series of local traffic management plans have been published for communities in the vicinity of venues for Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games to help residents and businesses plan ahead.

To ensure the smooth running of the Games when more than one million spectators are expected to visit the region, there will be temporary changes to local roads, parking regulations and public transport in Birmingham around:

• Perry Barr – Alexander Stadium
• Sutton Coldfield – Sutton Park
• City Centre – Arena Birmingham, Smithfield
• Southern venue cluster – Edgbaston Cricket Stadium, University of Birmingham (venue and athletes’ village)

The plans published today (March 15) show when and where traffic management measures will be in place and what they will mean to those who live or work in those areas.

Every venue is different and has its own bespoke local traffic management plan including where temporary road closures, diversions, parking controls (and access permits), will be required.

The plans are designed to increase safety around venues, allow residents and business to access their properties wherever possible and to encourage spectators to use buses, trains, bikes and official park and ride or park and walk sites.

They have been developed by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) in partnership with Birmingham City Council, West Midlands Police and the Birmingham 2022 organisers, to ensure the region keeps moving and every athlete, official and spectator can arrive at their venue on time.

An area of the Birmingham 2022 website – birmingham2022.com/getset – has been set up to act as a single source of information. The online hub will continue to be updated with the latest information in the run up to the Games.

Residents and businesses are able to view the plans and are invited to attend a series of drop-in sessions taking place across the city to ‘Get Set for the Games’.

They will vary from up to three weeks for restrictions around the athletes’ village site at the University of Birmingham, to just a single day for road race events like the marathon.

Around 158,000 properties near to Games venues and road race routes in the city will receive a postcard this week encouraging people to go online and attend a public drop-in event in their area.

Traffic management and parking plans for venues and events in Sandwell, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Cannock Chase, Coventry and Warwickshire are due to be announced in the next few weeks.

As well as traffic measures, TfWM, which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), will later this spring announce details of park and ride facilities, special shuttle buses and the offer of public transport within the region for spectators included with their tickets to further cut car use among visitors.

Public transport operators are also looking at increasing capacity, frequency of service and operating hours, to manage demand during the Games, especially as, for events in the West Midlands, spectators will have access to public transport included within their Games ticket for the local area on the day of their event. A journey planner will be released later in the year to help people plan their travel during the Games.

TfWM executive director Anne Shaw said: “Our plans are designed to make it as easy as possible for spectators to leave the car at home and use public transport to get to events

“This, along with the traffic management and parking plans announced today ensure that residents and businesses near to venues will be able to access their properties as well as help manage congestion on the wider network for regular commuters, deliveries and emergency services going about their daily business.

“There will inevitably be some disruption at some busy times, but these plans have been carefully designed to keep that to a minimum. Ensuring our region can keep moving when a million visitors arrive this summer will be key to a successful Commonwealth Games.”

“This is the biggest, most prestigious event ever hosted in the West Midlands and there will be a range of things in our normal daily routines that need to temporarily change. This is the case with all such major multi-sport events, so I would recommend people start planning ahead and check out information as it becomes available through the Get Set website.”

Birmingham 2022 is the biggest multi-sport event to be held in the UK since the London 2012 Olympics and it is the largest event ever to be held in the West Midlands region. It will officially begin on 28 July with a spectacular Opening Ceremony at the newly transformed Alexander Stadium and the Games is expected to attract more than 4,500 athletes from 72 nations and territories who’ll take part in 19 different sports and eight Para sports.

Phil Edwards, assistant director for transportation and connectivity at Birmingham City Council, said: “The city will be bustling with activity and things may operate differently to ensure we can deliver a spectacular Games for everyone. Our role is to help residents and businesses understand the measures being put in place so they can plan ahead and are prepared.

“I encourage everyone living or working near a Games venue to attend one of the advertised drop-in sessions over the next few months and visit Birmingham2022.com/getset.”

West Midlands Police are also working closely with partners and neighbouring forces to deliver the biggest policing operation the West Midlands has ever seen. Bringing thousands of additional officers to the West Midlands means the police can continue to provide the same level of service communities normally receive in the lead up to and during Games time.

Chief Inspector Jason Nunn, WMP traffic lead for Birmingham 2022 said: “WMP are working with partners to ensure that both local residents and visitors to the region are able to travel easily and safely on our roads at Games time.   We have been assisting with the planning of the transport operation since 2020 and there will be a number of officers deployed  across the region to support the transport plan and help deliver a safe and secure Birmingham 2022.“

Local neighbourhood officers and staff in the areas that will be hosting Games activity will also be on hand to support residents and businesses as they prepare for Games time and will be in attendance at the local ‘Get Set for the Games’ events.

Some residents and businesses in Birmingham will be required to apply for a free permit via an online application. Only properties with an eligible postcode (within the restriction boundaries) will be able to apply.

If you are already part of a permit scheme the local authority will be in touch to let you know if there are any changes.  ​Applications will open in May and Birmingham City Council will write to eligible households and businesses in advance. Businesses will need to apply on behalf of employees.

Find out how you can Get Set for the Games here: https://www.birmingham2022.com/getset/

Follow the new Get Set for the Games Twitter account here: https://twitter.com/GetSet2022