The Third Session of the Scottish Parliament will be marked on Saturday 30 June in a ceremony that will bring together the people, Parliament and The Queen.
To support this event, there will be associated road closures, parking restrictions and changes to bus services in the city centre. However every effort has been made by the City of Edinburgh Council, Scottish Parliament, Lothian and Borders’ Police and transport providers to minimise disruption while ensuring the safety of everyone attending the event.
Morning
Debating Chamber - Address by Her Majesty The Queen. This will be relayed live to a screen in the landscaped gardens of the Parliament.
The ‘Riding’
Around 1,200 people representing all fields of Scottish achievement, interspersed with bands, banners and performers will make their way down the Royal Mile from the Council’s new administration office, Waverley Court, to Holyrood.
Lunchtime onwards
Landscaped gardens - Picnic at the Parliament. A free public event with live music – traditional, contemporary, multi-cultural and international – drama and dance. Guests and the public will be able to sit together in the gardens with their picnics. Café-style tables and chairs will also be available for guests in a sheltered area at the front of the Parliament.
Free exhibitions will also take place in the Scottish Parliament building, which will be open to the public.
Parking Restrictions
Residents and visitors are advised that temporary road closures, parking restrictions and changes to bus services will be in operation.
Road Closures
From 00.30am to 2pm on Saturday 30th June 2007 :
New Street, Cranston Street and East Market Street will be closed
From 00.30am to 3pm on Saturday 30th June 2007:
Approaches to Holyrood Palace will be closed – this will include Abbeyhill from North Approach to the Canongate, North Approach and Calton Road from Abbeyhill Crescent to Abbeyhill.
From 00.30am to 4pm on Saturday 30th June 2007:
Canongate and Abbey Strand will be closed to facilitate the ‘Riding’.
From 00:30am to 9pm on Saturday 30th June 2007:
Horse Wynd and a section of Queen’s Drive to facilitate the Opening Ceremony and Picnic in the Park.
Further information on road closures and parking restrictions (PDF, 59kb)
Parking
Parking restrictions will be applied on roads from 6.30pm on Friday 29th June 2007. These will be indicated by yellow “no parking” cones and signs at the roadside. Please do not park in these locations at the times shown in the table below.
Disabled parking
Parking on the north side of Calton Road at the Abbeyhill end. Signs will be erected however to indicate this area as disabled parking. Blue badge holders can park on the existing single yellow lines.
Note
Parking regulations will continue to be enforced as normal this Saturday (30 June), despite strike action by parking attendants. Drivers must make sure they pay for on-street parking as usual, display permits and badges as required and check signs and lines before parking.
Buses
There will be changed to Lothian Bus Services 35 and 36 on the day.
Service 35 will be diverted in both directions at South Bridge via North Bridge, Waterloo Place, Regent Terrace before returning to its normal route at Easter Road.
Service 36, which is the best bus to take when travelling to the event, will finish its normal route at Our Dynamic Earth.
For further information on traffic management arrangements during the event please contact Clarence on Freephone 0800 23 23 23 between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday. For more information about the ceremony visit the Scottish Parliament website
Safety information
Those attending the event can help stay safe by remembering these key messages:
- be patient and stay calm if you find yourself in a big crowd – large numbers of people can move slowly
- don’t bring glass - use plastic bottles if you want to bring soft drinks or water
- remember it may be a hot day, so take lots of water, sunscreen and a hat
- it is advised that children under 16 are accompanied by an adult
- think about how you will get back to your accommodation after events.
Contacts
Name: Shona Cameron, City of Edinburgh Council
Tel: 0131 529 4452
Related links