Newcastle’s council-run car parks will be kept open late on the day of Newcastle United’s Carabao Cup trophy celebrations – but drivers have been warned that several popular locations will be blocked off to make way for the team’s bus parade.
Tens of thousands of football fans are expected to descend on the city centre this Saturday, 29 March, for an open-top bus parade from St James’ Park to the Town Moor, where the Magpies’ cup-winning squad will continue the massive celebrations with a huge party to mark their historic Wembley win over Liverpool.
The events are being billed as among the largest ever to hit Newcastle, as Geordies rejoice at a first domestic cup win since 1955.
After details of the bus parade were announced on Monday night, Newcastle City Council has now also confirmed changes to car parking arrangements on the big day.
All council car parks which would normally shut will remain open until midnight, in anticipation of the huge crowds.
However, there will also be a number of parking suspensions throughout the day in parts of the city centre, including some multi-storey car parks, on the bus procession route.
Parking suspensions will be in place in the following locations:
- Barrack Road – All bays suspended until 6pm;
- St Andrews Street upper – All bays suspended until 6pm;
- College Street – All bays suspended until 6pm;
- Sandyford Road – All bays suspended until 6pm;
- Forsyth Road – All bays suspended all day;
- Eldon Square car park – Closed from 3pm until 6pm, during which times cars will be unable to exit;
- Eldon Garden car park – Closed from 3pm until 6pm, but cars will still be able to exit;
- Clayton Street – All bays suspended until 6pm between Fenkle Street and Newgate Street;
- Civic Centre – closed to the public until 1pm (not including Sandyford Square).
The open top bus parade is due to take place from 4pm to 6pm. It will leave from St James’ Park heading towards Gallowgate, before turning onto Percy Street and driving up the B1318 Great North Road in the direction of Gosforth before stopping at the Town Moor.
A number of road closures will also be in place through the day.
The following roads will be closed on a rolling basis between 4pm and 6pm to allow fans to watch the open top bus parade, reopening in sections once the parade has passed:
- Barrack Road, from Stanhope Street to St. James Boulevard;
- Gallowgate;
- St James Boulevard, from Westgate Road to Gallowgate;
- Percy Street;
- Blackett Street;
- New Bridge Street West (Westbound), from John Dobson Street to Pilgrim Street;
- Barras Bridge;
- St. Mary’s Place, from John Dobson Street to Barras Bridge/Percy Street.
Road closures for the Town Moor event will also include:
- Great North Road, from Blue House roundabout to Claremont Road including the slip roads from Central Motorway north and southbound to Barras Bridge and Great North Road, from 12 noon to 9.30pm;
- Barras Bridge, between St Marys Place and Claremont Road, closed from 4pm to 9.30pm;
- Claremont Road, between Queen Victoria Road and Barras Bridge, closed from 4pm to 9.30pm.
Image: Newcastle City Council
Cllr Karen Kilgour, leader of Newcastle City Council, added: “This is a monumental and exciting event for the city as we come together to celebrate this amazing achievement.
“We know how much this event means to the city, and we’ve worked closely with our partners to ensure that everyone can be part of this historic occasion.
“This will be one of the biggest events we have seen in the city, and the safety of everyone attending is paramount. With huge crowds expected, we want everyone to enjoy it and get there and home safely so there will be a number of road closures required, and we’re asking people to plan ahead and use public transport.
“I am sure it will be a fantastic and proud day for our city and I can’t wait to be there.”
