Bowlee Park ready for the Stone Roses fans

The Stone Roses will play to a sell out crowd this weekend

Rochdale is all geared up for this weekend’s Stone Roses concerts with a special park and ride facility being provided at Bowlee Park.

The indie supergroup will play three gigs at Heaton Park from Friday at the most hotly anticipated musical reunion of the year.

Around 80,000 fans will attend on each day, but no parking will be available at Heaton Park. Ticket holders who are travelling by car are being advised to use the park and ride facility at the popular Bowlee Park in Heywood Old Road, Middleton.

Rochdale Borough Council has been working closely with the concert promoters, Greater Manchester Police and Manchester City Council to ensure the event passes with minimum disruption to residents and motorists.

The council is advising that because of the numbers expected parking is likely to be limited in Middleton town centre and public transport will be crowded.

The following road closures will also be in operation on concert days:

• Bury Old Road (from its junction of Sheepfoot Lane to Newton Street) will be closed between 9.00pm and 1.00am
• Sheepfoot Lane (from its junction of Bury Old Road to Middleton Road)will also be closed between 9.00pm and 1.00am
• Whittaker Lane (from Heaton Park Tram station to the junction of Bury Old Road) will be closed all day between 10.00am and 1.00am
• M60 Junction 19 – exit sliproads in both directions will be closed between 10pm and 1pm.

Local residents have all been contacted by letter and a special community information hotline has also been set up provide advice and address any issues residents may have as a result of the concert.

The hotline will be open on Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 June from 12 noon to 8.30pm and on concert days from 10.00am until 1.00am. This number is 0161 954 9003.