WITH the town gearing up for the annual Goose Fair on Wednesday (October 9) Tavistock Town Council is reminding the public about road closures and the lack of parking in the town.
The council is encouraging visitors to the town to use the dedicated park and ride scheme as there will be very little parking available in the town on Goose Fair day.
The park and ride scheme will operate from Yelverton Aerodrome, Harford Bridge Holiday Park on Peter Tavy Road and The Old Rectory Caravan and Camping Park, Gulworthy.
The Lions’ Club of Tavistock and Plymouth Tamar will be manning the park and ride sites.
A spokesperson for the council said: ‘The park and ride sites will be identified on the main routes into Tavistock by temporary AA-type yellow road signs.
To avoid overcrowding at bus stops in Tavistock, the Yelverton buses will drop off and pick up outside the Devon County Council highways yard in Pixon Lane.
‘Stagecoach buses will be co-ordinating the bus services and will run frequent shuttle services to strategic points in the town centre, from the above mentioned park and ride locations.
The bus service will operate between 9am and 10.30pm depending upon demand. Stagecoach will also be running additional departures from Tavistock to Plymouth on service 1 at 9pm and 11pm.
‘Be wise. Do not attempt to drive into Tavistock on Goose Fair day. Use the park and ride.’
There will be a clearly signposted, one-way system operating around the town, coming into force with road closures from 5pm on Tuesday, October 8, lasting throughout Goose Fair day on Wednesday, October 9, and ending at 7am on Thursday, October 10.
The roads closed to traffic will be Plymouth Road, from Drake’s statue to Bedford Square; Abbey Place, Russell Street, Chapel Street, Market Street, Market Road and Canal Road.
A number of car parks will also be closed during the event. Bedford Car Park will be closed from Saturday, October 5 for the whole week to accommodate fairground rides; Guildhall Car Park will be closed from 4pm on Monday, October 7 until 8am on Thursday, October 10 and Riverside Car Park will be closed on Tuesday, October 8 until 8am on Thursday, October 10.
The taxi rank in Bedford Square will be closed and temporary taxi ranks will operate near NatWest bank in Duke Street, outside Newell’s Travel in West Street and in Chapel Street Car Park.
Other parking will be available, at a charge, at Tavistock College, Crowndale Football Ground and evening parking will be available at the West Devon Borough Council offices at Kilworthy Park.
Picture above by James Bird