Olympic Torch route through Rochdale and Heywood revealed

The Mayor Alan Godson and Mayoress Gillian Brown are pictured alongside one of the Rochdale Olympic cars with Council Leader, Colin Lambert (right) and members of the Rochdale Owners Club.

The route the Olympic Torch will take through Rochdale and Heywood has been revealed.

Saturday 23 June will see the Olympic flame reach the borough on its 70 day journey around the UK with people lining the streets to welcome the famous symbol and celebrate this once in a lifetime event.

With events in Rochdale and Heywood town centres, the Olympic Torch will come into the borough from Norden, along Edenfield Road with the first Torchbearer carrying the flame from the junction with Elmsfield Avenue.

The flame will then be on full view as it is carried along Sandy Lane past Spotland Stadium. It will turn left onto Bury Road and travel along College Road and Newgate before turning onto the Esplanade and passing in front of the Town Hall.

The flame will continue on its journey travelling along Manchester Road, then Bolton Road up to Springfield Park. The convoy will continue until Torchbearers pick it up again on Rochdale Road East, at the junction with Crimble Lane. It then makes its way to Heywood town centre going along York Street and Market Street before finally leaving the borough and heading to Manchester city centre for an evening celebration.    

Council Leader, Councillor Colin Lambert, said: “The route is great. It’s going to be carried five and a half miles in total by Torchbearers through Rochdale and Heywood so people will have some great opportunities to cheer it on its way.

“Lots of people will be able to just step outside their houses to see it or they can head to the town centres and take part in the events that are being organised.

“When the Tour of Britain came to the borough two years ago the organisers commented what a fantastic reception the cyclists got right along the route in Rochdale so lets make sure we give the Torch and the Torchbearers the same great welcome.”

 

Events in both town centres will be organised by Link4Life, the Council and Rochdale Town Centre Management Company giving people the chance to take part in a whole range of activities before and after the Torch passes through.

And car enthusiasts will have the chance to see Rochdale’s very own version of the Olympics on the day, thanks to the Rochdale Owners Club. They are going to bring Rochdale Olympic cars from across the country to display them back in their home town on the day. Named in honour of the Rome Olympics of 1960, the Rochdale marque of fibreglass ‘kit’ cars were made by town centre based Rochdale Motor Panels for over 20 years from the 1950s.

An average of 115 Torchbearers a day will carry the Olympic Flame during its 8,000 mile journey around the UK before it arrives at the Olympic Stadium on 27 July 2012 for the lighting of the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony, signifying the official start of the Games.

One of the borough’s Torchbearers is Michael Hymanson who as chairman of charities Destination Florida and Children’s Aid has helped raise over £4 million for local needy and poorly children.

He said: “I couldn’t believe it when I found out I’d been nominated to carry the Olympic Torch. I am really proud and excited. It’s something that I’ll remember forever; it’s part of our country’s history and I feel really privileged to be part of it.”

Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG added: “Today we bring the Olympic Torch Relay to life. The flame symbolises the Olympic spirit and its journey around the UK will bring the excitement of the Games to our streets. Now the people know the route the Olympic Flame will be carried along they can start planning how they might celebrate and make it Rochdale and Heywood’s moment to shine.”