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Full list of road closures announced as IRONMAN 2024 takes over Bolton next month

Get ready to not leave your house...

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 21st May 2024

The official route and full list of road closures have been announced, as Bolton prepares to host the IRONMAN next month.

Bolton has been the proud home of the UK’s IRONMAN race since 2009, and the world-renowned triathlon is all set to take over the Greater Manchester town once again in a couple of weeks time – with participants and spectators in thousands all preparing to flock to all four corners of the borough to the catch the action.

People of all ages and abilities – even including kids – are training to take part in three different events across the weekend.

And, as is always the case, residents and road users are being urged to plan ahead.

Full list of road closures announced as IRONMAN 2024 takes over Bolton / Credit: IRONMAN England (via Facebook)

Disruption is always expected by Bolton residents on the day, but this year, when IRONMAN 70.3 takes over the town on Sunday 30 June, temporary road closures will affect different areas than in previous years, and this is due to “significant changes” to the bike and running routes for the 2024 race.

Bolton Council has, however, assured residents that the shorter distance of this year’s race means road closures will be briefer.

Temporary road closures are needed to “ensure the safety” of competitors and spectators.

One of the borough’s major roads, Chorley New Road, now forms part of the bike route for this year, and the run route has also changed slightly too, but for the most part, it all remains concentrated around the town centre to minimise disruption as best as possible.

The town centre and Middlebrook retail park will be open as normal all weekend, but anyone driving into the town centre is advised to park at one of the car parks – which will be open as normal – rather than elsewhere or in the surrounding areas.

Anyone heading to Middlebrook from Bolton is advised to use Wigan Road (A676 / A58), to Manchester Road / Chorley Road (A6), and then use De Havilland Way (A6027) to reach the retail park.

Road closures in and around the town centre for the ‘Night Run’ on Friday 28 June, and for IRONKIDS on Saturday 29 June, remain the same as in previous years, and people are advised to check Bolton Council’s website for more information on this.

Full list of road closures for IRONMAN 2024

All weekend:

Le Mans Crescent, Howell Croft North, and Howell Croft South will be closed from Friday 28 June at 6am to 9am on Monday 1 July, due to the course set up and build for the weekend events.

Friday 28 June – Night Run:

  • Deansgate, Knowsley Street, Chorley Street, Bark Street, Back Bark Street, and Bridge Street will be closed from 5:30-9pm
  • Spa Road will be closed eastbound from 5:30-9pm

Saturday 29 June – IRONKIDS:

  • Le Mans Crescent will be closed all day
  • Deansgate will be closed from 6am-5pm

Sunday 30 June 30 – IRONMAN 70.3:

  • St Helen’s Road, Sandy Lane, Byrom Lane, Slag Lane and Lowton Road will be closed from 6-10am
  • Wigan Road/Warrington Road (A573) will be closed from 6-10:30am
  • Bickershaw Lane, a short section of the A578, Nel Pan Lane, and Westleigh Lane will be closed from 6-10:45am
  • Atherleigh Way (A579) between St Helen’s Road and Kirkhall Lane will be closed northbound only from 6-9:45am
  • Atherleigh Way (A579) will be closed northbound only between Kirkhall Lane and the Talbot roundabout from 6-10:45am
  • Gibfield Park Way and Gibfield Park Avenue will be closed from 6:30-11am
  • North Road from the junction with Gibfield Park Avenue, Platt Lane, and the A58 from Platt Lane to the Chequerbent roundabout, will be closed from 6:30-11am.
  • The bikes will turn left using Park Road/Manchester Road slip and will continue west on Manchester Road (A6), but these roads will be closed westbound only from 7-11am
  • Chew Moor Lane / Tempest Road to Regent Road, and Regent Road to Chorley New Road, will be closed 7-11am
  • De Havilland Way will be closed northbound from 7am-1pm
  • Victoria Road (A58) and Old Kiln Lane will be closed from 7am-1pm
  • Chorley New Road from Beaumont Road to the Beehive Roundabout will be closed eastbound from 7am-1pm, but there will be access westbound throughout the day
  • Chorley New Road from Beaumont Road to Waterslea Drive will be closed from 7am-1:30pm
  • Chorley New Road from Waterslea Drive to St George’s Road (B6226) will be closed from 7am-5:30pm
  • Chew Moor Lane, St John’s Road, Tempest Road, and Regent Road will be closed from 7-11:15am
  • Chorley Street, Bark Street, St Helena’s Road, Blackhorse Street, and Queen Street will be closed 7am-3:30pm
  • Spa Road will be closed from 6am-6pm

More information on the course and diversions to avoid road closures – including maps and timings – can now be found on the IRONMAN website.

Read more:

A road access hotline for further information is also available six-weeks prior to the events, and throughout the race weekend, by calling 03330 11 66 00.

Featured Image – Bolton Council

News

Bob Vylan dropped from Manchester music festival following Glastonbury controversy

Danny Jones Danny Jones Manchester music festival drops Bob Vylan after Glastonbury chants

English punk rap duo Bob Vylan have been dropped from an upcoming music festival in Manchester following the recent controversy surrounding their set at Glastonbury 2025.

The media storm surrounding their much-talked-about and heavily televised Glasto appearance has seen them reportedly dropped by their agency and their US Visas cancelled, along with multiple concerts – one of those being right here in Greater Manchester.

Bob Vylan were scheduled to play RADAR Fest at Victoria Warehouse in Stretford this weekend, but now the organisers have informed gig-goers that the artists will not be performing in their planned slot on Saturday.

The alternative music event did provide any additional details, posting nothing but this image:

radar festival cancels bob vylan set
Credit: RADAR Festival

For anyone unaware, Vylan were heavily criticised for the pro-Palestine chants, which Glastonbury itself has deemed as having “crossed a line”, labelling the chants against the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) as antisemitic.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has also commented on the situation.

In addition to RADAR, Vylan were also due to appear at Kave Fest in France the following Sunday, 6 July, but the music event has also decided not to host them.

The BBC also opted not to broadcast Northern Irish band Kneecap as part of their coverage this year, as the Belfast rap trio have also been outspoken on the issue, among many other musicians of late.

Responding to the decision on social media not long after the news broke, the act simply shared the post on their Instagram story along with the caption: “Silence is not an option. We will be fine, the people of Palestine are hurting. Manchester, we will be back.”

The pair have said that they are being “targeted for speaking up.”

At present, an official police investigation has been launched into both Bob Vylan and Kneecap’s performances, with footage from both shows to be reviewed in order to decide whether their respective comments amounted to a criminal offence.

A statement added: “This has been recorded as a public order incident at this time while our enquiries are at an early stage.”

You can see the rest of the remaining RADAR Festival 2025 lineup down below.

RADAR Festival returns to Manchester with huge lineup this summer and you can still get tickets
It gets underway on Friday, 4 July.

Read more:

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Featured Images — NMK Photography (via Flickr)

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Trafford Centre launches school uniform drive to help disadvantaged Manchester families

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A school uniform drive has been launched at the Trafford Centre to support local families ahead of the new school year.

With schools across Greater Manchester soon set to be out for the summer holidays, many parents, guardians, and carers in the region may be looking ahead to the new school year in September, concerned about how they may be able to provide their children with the necessary uniform items needed.

According to a 2020 survey by The Children’s Society, 23% of parents reported that the cost of school uniforms led to their children wearing ‘ill-fitting, unclean, or incorrect’ items.

It’s these statistic that highlight the ongoing pressure faced by families.

This is why the Trafford Centre has partnered with both Manchester South Central Foodbank and local charity, Bridging the Gap, to launch a school uniform donation drive aimed at supporting more than 700 children across Manchester this summer.

The Trafford Centre launches a school uniform drive to help disadvantaged Manchester families / Credit: Trafford Centre

From now up until the 15 August, anyone heading to the region’s largest shopping centre is encouraged to donate new or pre-loved school uniforms.

“The cost of living crisis has deeply impacted our community, with more and more families unable to afford the essentials,” commented Emily Jeremy, who is the Assistant Project Manager at Manchester South Central Foodbank.

“As an anti-poverty charity, we recognised the need for school uniform support years ago. Though costs vary between schools, a full set of branded secondary school uniform can total around £150, which is a significant burden for many households.”

Trafford Centre Guest Services
Trafford Centre
All items can be donated at the shopping centre’s Guest Services point / Credit: Darren Robinson Photography | Trafford Centre (Supplied)

Simon Layton, Centre Director at the Trafford Centre, added: “We’re proud to be working alongside Bridging the Gap and Manchester South Central Foodbank to support local families during these challenging times.

“School uniforms shouldn’t be a barrier to education, and we hope this initiative will ease some of the pressure many parents face as the new school year approaches.”

The school uniform donation drive is running up until 15 August.

Read more:

All items can be taken to the Trafford Centre’s Guest Services Lounge, which is located on Lower Regent Crescent next to M&S, and they must be clean and free from stains or damage.

Find out more here.

Featured Image – gov.uk

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