As tens of thousands of people prepare to visit South Ayrshire to be part of the Scottish International Airshow 2018, people are being urged to find out the best ways to make the most of the weekend.
The event, which promises spectacular flying displays, takes place on 1-2 September 2018 and is expected to attract bumper crowds in excess of 100,000.
To help manage the event, a full list of road closures and parking restrictions have been announced. The temporary changes will be introduced in the interests of road safety and to help ensure traffic and pedestrians can get where they need to safely and securely.
Additional event parking restrictions will be in place and anyone causing an obstruction with their vehicle risks being fined and having their car removed by Police Scotland.
Full details of the restrictions alongside handy information about other attractions to visit in South Ayrshire are available in this online guide.
Councillor Ian Cochrane, Portfolio Holder for Sustainability & the Environment, said it was going to be a busy weekend for Ayr and that visitors needed to plan ahead, “People from across Scotland and further afield will be coming to Ayr to enjoy the Airshow and plans to make this as an enjoyable experience as possible are well underway.
“With more than 100,000 visitors expected over the weekend we’d recommend that people use public transport to get here with additional trains and carriages being provided by Scotrail over the weekend, and Stagecoach providing a pre-booking service.
“There are also a number of essential road closures and parking restrictions being put in place to free up the roads for people travelling to and from the event and I’d recommend people find out more about these before the head off on the day.”
Gary I'Anson, Chief Inspector, South Ayrshire Area Commander said that plans were in place to keep traffic moving “The roads around Ayr will be substantially busier than normal and it’s vital that people respect our roads and leave their cars in official car parks and spaces or preferably leave their cars at home.
“One rogue car causing an obstruction can cause delays for hundreds of people and to help manage the roads officers will be deployed across Ayr to make sure the roads stay clear and that traffic keeps moving at peak times.
“As a last resort officers can remove cars causing an obstruction but I hope that most people read up on the restrictions in place and plan their journeys accordingly.”
Road closures
The following roads will be closed from 00:01 hours on Friday 31st August 2018 until 23:59 hours on Sunday 2nd September 2018:
Blackburn Drive (from Blackburn Rd to The Esplanade)
The Esplanade (from Blackburn Dr to Pavilion Rd)
The following roads will be closed from 00:01 hours on Saturday 1st September 2018 until 23:59 hours on Sunday 2nd September 2018:
Ayr
Bath Place (from Wellington Square to The Esplanade)
Blackburn Drive (from Blackburn Rd to Seafield Rd)
Blackburn Road (from Blackburn Drive to Westfield Rd)
Pavilion Road (from Wellington Square to The Esplanade)
Wellington Square
Prestwick
Shaw Road (from Monument Crescent to the Prestwick Airport Terminal Fence)
Turning restrictions
No right turn from Maybole Road on to A77
No right turn from Doonfoot Road on to A77
No right turn leaving the Old Racecourse car park on to Doonfoot Road
No left turn from Carwinshoch View to Doonfoot Road
Traffic management will be at these junctions and drivers are asked to follow direction from personnel there. Please note these turning restrictions are in place after the flying has finished on the Saturday and the Sunday.
Parking restrictions
The following streets will have restrictions on waiting and loading from 07:00 hours on Saturday 1st September 2018 until 21:00 hours on Sunday 2nd September 2018
Ayr:
Alloway Place
Blackburn Drive
Corsehill Road
Doonfoot Road
The Esplanade
Ewenfield Road
Greenfield Ave
Monument Road (at Corsehill Road and Ewanfield Road)
Murdoch’s Lone
Racecourse Road
Racecourse View
Seafield Drive
Seafield Road
Wellington Square (east leg)
Prestwick:
Shawfarm Road
Shaw Road
The following streets will have restrictions on waiting from 07:00 hours on Saturday 1st September 2018 until 21:00 hours on Sunday 2nd September 2018:
Ayr:
Alloway Park
Belleisle Drive
Blackburn Road
Cassillis Street
Cromwell Road
Ewenfield Avenue
Fairfield Road
Glenford Place
King Street
Midton Road
Parkhouse Street
Queens Terrace
Queens Terrace Lane
South Beach Road
Wellington Square (south leg)
Wexford Way
Wheatfield Drive
Whitletts Road
Yeomanry Place
Free disabled car parking is right beside the Low Green Airshow site and is available to current blue badge holders on a first come first served basis. Entry is via Seafield Road KA7 4AD and blue badges will be checked on entry.