Music fans will be heading to Leicester this weekend to enjoy two days of live music in Victoria Park, as the city hosts this year’s BBC Radio 2 In The Park.
The event organised by the BBC, will attract around 35,000 visitors each day – and while it’s a huge boost for the city, it does mean that Leicester’s roads and car parks will be busier than normal on Saturday 16 September and Sunday 17 September.
Picture: Leicester City Council
With around 3,000 parking spaces at dedicated ‘Park & Walk’ sites already pre-booked by ticket-holders, event organisers expect a further 4,000 cars to be heading for the city this weekend.
Leicester City Council’s highways network asset manager Rupert Bedder said: “The BBC has developed a travel plan for the event, with ticket-holders encouraged to travel to Victoria Park as sustainably as possible, and with measures in place to mitigate the impact of the event on local people.
“Residents’ parking schemes in Clarendon Park, for example, have been extended to cover the entire weekend, with temporary schemes introduced in streets off London Road and in Stoneygate to prevent unauthorised parking in the areas closest to Victoria Park.
“The event organisers have also set up dedicated ‘Park & Walk’ sites, which will divert more than 3,000 cars to areas away from the city centre.
“With more than 9,000 spaces available in our main city centre car parks, there’s plenty of capacity for the extra cars we’re expecting, but clearly demand for spaces will be higher than normal.
“If you’re coming into Leicester city centre this weekend to shop, or to enjoy a day out, bear in mind that your usual car park may be busier than normal, so please be prepared to park elsewhere and allow extra time for your journey.
“Look out for the real-time parking information that’s displayed on the approach roads to the city centre, which will help you find an available space.
“And if you want a quick and easy journey into Leicester on Saturday, why not use one of the city’s Park and Ride services?”
Once in the city centre, shoppers and visitors will be able to make use of Hop! – Leicester’s free electric bus service, which loops the city centre and serves both the Haymarket bus station and Leicester railway station.
Hop! will be running an extended service during BBC Radio 2 In The Park, with buses running every 10 minutes until 10.30pm (last departure from Haymarket bus station) on Saturday 16 September, and with a special Sunday service operating from 10am until 10.30pm on Sunday 17 September only.
A temporary Hop! bus stop will be placed on Tigers Way, just before the junction of Lancaster Road, for passengers travelling to and from the BBC Radio 2 In The Park event.
Deputy city mayor for climate, economy & culture Cllr Adam Clarke said: “The BBC has used an experienced traffic management company, that’s delivered many successful travel plans for major events in the city and across the country before, to help them understand how people will be travelling to this weekend’s events.
“Based on their analysis of people’s travel plans, the organisers have assured us that the measures they’ve put in place will meet the demands of festival goers, while also ensuring that the rest of the city will be open for business across this exciting weekend.
“With around 57 per cent of ticket-holders living locally, I’d like to encourage them to choose green travel when planning their journey to Victoria Park.
“Hop on one of Leicester’s green, clean electric buses, enjoy the city’s walking and cycling routes, and make use of the two free bike parks that will be provided at the event.
“Let’s make sure that BBC Radio 2 In The Park is not only a sensational event for the city, but that it’s also a sustainable one.”
