Organisers of the Ulverston Lantern Festival are warning residents and visitors that the town centre will be closed to all traffic on Saturday evening (September 17th) to safeguard families taking part in the procession and the thousands of spectators expected to gather as the ‘River of Light’ moves through the streets.
They are also warning pet owners to keep their animals safe inside between 9.00pm and 9.30pm while the huge firework display takes place at Ford Park, and are appealing to spectators to bring cash for donations to ensure the Festival continues to brighten the streets of Ulverston.
A formal road closure order authorised by South Lakeland District Council will be in place between 7.00pm and 10.00pm in Ulverston Town Centre on Saturday September 17th. The First Schedule of the closure order covers King Street, Queen Street, Buxton Place, Well Street, Lower Brook Street, Fountain Street, Mill Street, Stanley Street from the junction with Garden Terrace to the Gill, Soutergate from the junction with Fountain Street to the junction with Garden Terrace, Church Walk from the junction with Mill Street to Tarnside, Hart Street from the junction with Brewery Street to the junction with Sunderland Terrace, Sunderland Terrace from the junction with Hart Street to the junction with Swan Street, Swan Street, Market Street, Union Street, Brewery Street, Cavendish Street, Theatre Street, County Square, New Market Street, Daltongate from the junction with Market Street to the junction with Stockbridge Lane, Brewery Street and Fountain Street.
The Second Schedule of the closure order covers the A590 County Road to Dalton-in-Furness, A595 Dalton-in-Furness to Grizebeck, A5092 Grizebeck to Gawthwaite , and B5281 Gawthwaite to Soutergate, Ulverston (to allow passage of the processions).
Road barriers will be in place and Cumbria Police will be on hand to ensure the safety of the crowds. Motorists are warned that driving on a closed road invalidates motor insurance.
Festival chair Chris Nelson explains: “The vast majority of residents and drivers respect the road closures but some drivers try to force their way through or try to leave car parks before the closure order has been lifted. These people put lives and their own safety at risk.”
Pet owners are also requested to keep their pets indoors for a short period after 9.00pm when the huge firework display is due to begin, after a one-minute remembrance to show respect for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. A huge Crown lantern has also been created to honour the Queen.
The community festival is organised and run entirely by volunteers and costs more than £10,000 each year. The Festival receives support from education specialists Broughton-based CGP Books, and from Ulverston Town Council and South Lakeland District Council. But most of the funds needed to run the event each year come from sales of Lantern Kits and cash donations on the night, so spectators are asked to bring cash to deposit in the collection buckets, to ensure this unique Festival continues in the future.
To find out more about the festival go to the Facebook page or visit ulverstonlanternfestival.org
