City prepares for the Pope

Roads, schools and refuse collections will all be disrupted as a result of the Pope’s visit to Glasgow next month.

Almost 3500 letters are being sent to households and businesses near Bellahouston Park, where Pope Benedict XV1 will celebrate Mass on September 16 in front of 100,000 people.

City council roads boss Robert Booth warns roads will have to close to allow transport, parking and security for the event at the south side of the park facing Mosspark Boulevard.

Bellahouston Park will be closed from 3pm on September 15 and will remain closed until September 17.

Bellahouston Leisure Centre and the Palace Of Art For Sports Excellence will also be shut during that period, with Bellahouston Ski And Snowboard Centre and House For An Art Lover both closed on September 16.

Mr Booth’s letter states: “There may be some noise generated from the stage build and take down, rehearsal and from the event itself.

“However, it is not anticipated it will be at levels that will have a detrimental effect on the amenity of the area, and noisy work at unsociable hours will be minimised.

“Any overnight work will be carried out to reopen streets as quickly as possible.”

On September 14, parking will be banned in Bellahouston Drive and the road shut from 9am-1pm, with access only for local people.

The following day, there will be no parking on Mosspark Boulevard and Bellahouston Drive from 9pm.

There will be a phased closure of Mosspark Boulevard between Corkerhill Road and Dumbreck Road, which will mean residents will not be able to get cars to or from their properties.

Once the road is shut, traffic travelling to Mosspark will have to go by Clunie Road at Corkerhill Road, which will be entry only, and Mosspark Boulevard between Bellahouston Drive and Corkerhill Road, which will be exit only.

A barrier will be placed along Mosspark Boulevard and there will be a phased closure of Bellahouston Drive between Paisley Road West and Mosspark Boulevard.

From September 14 to 16, householders in Bella- houston Drive and Mosspark Boulevard who have a driveway will have to leave their cars in the driveway or park in neighbouring streets where there are no restrictions.

Dumbreck Road will be closed from 10pm on September 15, but local access will be maintained to Torridon Avenue, Dumbreck Place, Dumbreck Avenue and Dumbreck Square. On September 16 – the day of the Pope’s visit – there will be limited access to properties off the west side of Dumbreck Road between Nithsdale Road and the M8 off-ramp between 9pm and later that evening.

Mr Booth says there will be general parking restrictions within Mosspark.

The removal of the road closures will depend on when vehicle barriers can be taken down, with the exception of Dumbreck Road, which will be open in time for Friday morning rush-hour.

Refuse collections will be switched from September 16 to Saturday, September 18 at these addresses: 20-94 Bellahouston Drive; 19-31 Corkerhill Road; 2-64 Kirkdale Drive; 18-63 Ladybank Drive; 15-59 Lora Drive; 3-77 Lugar Drive; 6-18 Maree Drive; and 19-67 Moness Drive.

Hazelwood School and Bellahouston Academy will close all day on September 16 due to road closures and parking restrictions and other schools will close at noon.

They are: Nithsdale Road Nursery; Ibrox Primary; Craigton Primary; Lourdes Primary; Lourdes Secondary; Our Lady Of The Rosary Primary; Mosspark Primary; Cardonald Primary; Govan High; Riverside Primary; St Saviour’s Primary; Broomloan Nursery; Festival Park Day Nursery; and Lorne Street Primary.

Building work for the event will begin this Friday and the park should be cleared by September 22. Shops and businesses expecting deliveries on September 16 have be told these should be rescheduled.

Further information on the visit at: www.glasgow.gov.uk/papalvisit and wwwthepapalvisit.org.uk or by calling 0141 287 2000.

Mr Booth said: “The Papal Mass will be a huge event. To make the best possible arrangements for such an event inevitably means changes to normal services.

“We are ensuring any such changes are restricted as much as possible to minimise disruption.”

A parade to mark the visit has been launched by Cardinal Keith O’Brien, head of the Catholic church in Scotland. He said the St Ninian’s Day parade would be a “national celebration”.

How the restrictions will affect you...

TUESDAY

(September 14)

No parking on Bellahouston Drive
9am-1pm: closure of Bellahouston Drive – local access only.

WEDNESDAY

(September 15)

No parking on Mosspark Boulevard and Bellahouston Drive from 9am.
Phased closure of Mosspark Boulevard, between Corkerhill Road and Dumbreck Road. This will prevent vehicular access to these properties.
Once Mosspark Boulevard is closed, vehicular access to the Mosspark area will be via Clunie Road at Corkerhill Road (entry only) and Mosspark Boulevard, between Bellahouston Drive and Corkerhill Road (exit only).
A barrier will be placed along Mosspark Boulevard.
There will be a phased closure of Bellahouston Drive, between Paisley Road West and Mosspark Boulevard.
Vehicle owners who have a driveway on Bellahouston Drive and Mosspark Boulevard will be required to either leave their vehicle in their driveway or move it to a nearby parking space outside of the streets where access is restricted between September 14-16.
Further information will be communicated to affected residents as soon as possible.
Dumbreck Road - closed from 10pm. Local access will be maintained to Torridon Avenue, Dumbreck Place, Dumbreck Avenue and Dumbreck Square.

THURSDAY

(September 16)

There will be limited access to properties off the west side of Dumbreck Road between Nithsdale Road and the M8 off-ramp between 9am and evening.
There will be general parking restrictions within the Mosspark area.
The ending of road closures will be dictated by removal of vehicle barriers, except in Dumbreck Road, which will be re-opened for Friday morning’s peak time traffic.