A FANTASTIC atmosphere and sense of community gripped Chesterfield and the surrounding areas as the Olympic Torch Relay rolled out across the region today.
Hundreds of people lined the streets and leaned out of shop and office windows to cheer the Torchbearers along including cystic fibrosis sufferer Olivia Ford who proudly carried the Olympic symbol through Chesterfield town centre.
Spectator Matthew Wells, 37, of Stonebroom, said: “I’ve not seen a show like this in my life before and it’s a shame we don’t have more things like this to bring the community together.”
Fellow spectator Anthony Payne, 34, of Newbold, said: “This is so good for the town and so good for business. It’s great to see so many people turning out together.”
Torch fan Marjorie Shepherd, 62, of Old Whittington, said: “I think it’s a once in a lifetime experience. We’ll never see anything like this again.”
The torch started in Glapwell earlier today and went through Bolsover before going between Calow and Chesterfield from 12.25pm to 13.30pm.
The Calow and Chesterfield route included Chesterfield Road near the White Hart pub towards Chesterfield along Hady Hill, St Mary’s Gate, Church Way, Knifesmithgate, Rose Hill, Clarence Road, West Bars, Chatsworth Road, Walton Road, finishing at the junction of Matlock Road and Foljambe Avenue.
The torch is now due to appear at the following locations:
Matlock 1.45pm to 3.06pm
Chesterfield Road by Bentley Brook, near Lumsdale junction, and enters Highfields School for a lunch stop at 1.49pm. Resumes 2.49pm on Chesterfield Road near Wolds Road junction, to Steep Turnpike (closed to spectators), Causeway Lane, Bakewell Road and finishes at Bakewell Road A6 roundabout.
Darley Dale 3.13pm to 3.20pm
Dale Road South near Warney Road junction and finishes at Dale Road South near Green Lane
Chatsworth 3.37pm to 3.57pm
From the estate’s third set of gates with an exchange in front of Chatsworth House with a 20minute break before it goes across the estate’s bridge.
Bakewell 4.23pm to 4.39pm
Baslow Road near B6001 junction, past Newholme hospital to Buxton Road and finishes at Buxton Road, near Mill Street junction.
Buxton 5.03pm to 5.30pm
Bakewell Road near Dale Road junction, to Spring Gardens, Bridge Street, Station Road, St John’s Road, Water Street, The Square, The Crescent, Terrace Road, High Street, London Road and finishing at London Road near Highland Close junction.
Ashbourne 6.02pm to 6.10pm
Buxton Road near North Avenue and Windmill Lane junction, to St John’s Street, Dig Street, Compton Street, Derby Road, finishing near Compton Street junction.
Derbyshire County Council is working to keep disruption to a minimum but roads along the route will be closed before and during the Torch Relay and a rolling road closure system will be used. More information about planned road closures will be available by visiting http://www.twitter.com/derbyshirecc on Twitter.
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