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Olympic torch is on its way





The torch relay maintains the tradition of the Olympic flame that is lit at Olympia in Greece, and carried to the host city.
This year the torch is being carried from Land’s End to London on a 70-day journey during which it will be carried by 8,000 runners.
En route to the Olympic stadium, on day 54 of the symbolic journey, it will be carried through West Berkshire.
There are five locations you can see the torch in West Berkshire - Calcot, Theale, Thatcham and two places in Newbury.
Between each location, the torch will be carried out of sight, inside a convoy vehicle.
The torch arrives from Reading in Theale at around 9.47am where it will be carried along the A4 through Calcot.
The second run is through Theale, starting just after 10am.
The third is along the A4 at Thatcham beginning at 10.30am and the fourth begins at just before 11am on the A4 east of Newbury arriving 20 minutes later on the A339 south of the town centre.
The final run starts at 11.20am in Pinchington Lane south of Newbury where it will stay for a sponsor stop where the torch will be on display until just after midday, when it will leave the district for Basingstoke.
West Berkshire Council has warned of delays to road journeys and road closures.
There may be additional car parking which will be signposted.
Most roads affected will be closed roughly half an hour before the torch relay comes through each area. However, Northbrook Street and Market Place in Newbury will be closed from 7am until 6pm.
The dual-carriageway on the A4 in Calcot and in Newbury, from just after the BP Garage to the Robin Hood Roundabout westbound, will be closed to traffic although the road eastbound is considered very likely to suffer some disruption, too, when the relay passes.
Vehicles can't be parked along the relay route and unauthorised vehicles may be towed away.
Public car parks along the route will be busy and as the torch passes.
Therefore it may not be possible to enter or exit the following car parks as the road to them may be closed: Newbury Central (by Kentucky Fried Chicken); Newbury Corn Exchange (Bear Lane); Newbury Library; Newbury Wharf; Thatcham Gilbert Court (East); Thatcham Gilbert Court (West); Thatcham Kingsland Centre; Theale High Street Main and Theale High Street West.
In addition, bus customers are advised to expect delays and amendments to regular bus services in the areas of Theale, Thatcham, Newbury, Headley and Kingsclere.
More details are available on the West Berkshire Council website at www.westberks.gov.uk



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