ian clarke Thousands of people wanting to join in Norwich City's League One winning celebrations are being urged to get into the city early as final preparations are being put in place for tomorrow's open top bus parade and civic reception.

ian clarke

Thousands of people wanting to join in Norwich City's League One winning celebrations are being urged to get into the city early as final preparations are being put in place for tomorrow's open top bus parade and civic reception.

More than 30,000 people are expected to line the streets to see Paul Lambert's title-winning team parade the League One trophy through the city centre before attending a civic reception at Norwich Castle.

And with last-minute preparations now taking place to ensure it is a night to remember, council bosses have urged fans to take their positions along the route by 5.30pm to make sure they can be part of the occasion.

Helen Selleck, events and culture manager, said: “People in Norwich have proved time and again that they know how to throw a party and this will be a fantastic celebration of the club's immediate return to the Championship. We want everyone to come out and celebrate and to see the players and the trophy being paraded.

“Our message to people is to walk, cycle or use transport to travel into the city as roads in the area will be closed from 4pm to 9pm.”

The open-topped bus will start its journey from the St Stephens roundabout at 6pm and make it way along St Stephens Street, Red Lion Street and Castle Meadow, arriving at Norwich Castle between 6.30pm and 6.45pm.

Speeches will then be made from the mound and the trophy held aloft at around 7pm before a civic reception takes place in the castle for the players, staff and invited guests.

The Castle Gardens and Castle Green will be closed to the public from 4pm, but there will be a disabled viewing area in Castle Green with a capacity of 200. Entrance to this area will be via Farmers Avenue, opposite Vue, and is on a first come, first served basis. Castle Mall will be open to the public as normal.

The celebrations, which are not being held at City Hall due to the refurbishment of the Memorial Gardens, are the culmination of a season in which City secured a return to the Championship at the first attempt, winning only the seventh trophy in the club's 108-year history in the process.

The parade, which is being sponsored by Aviva, will evoke memories of 2004 when more than 50,000 turned out to celebrate Norwich's promotion to the Premiership with an open-topped bus parade and civic reception at City Hall.

It will not be the first time a successful Norwich team has been invited to a civic reception at the castle. In May 1972, Ron Saunders' Division Two winning side attended a reception in the Castle Keep.

TRANSPORT

Special arrangements are being made to keep bus services running when city centre roads are closed for the parade.

Between 4pm and 9pm, buses which normally stop in St Stephen's Street, Theatre Street and Castle Meadow will be picking up from alternative stops or the bus station. Many St Stephen's services will move to the bus station. Some services to the railway station will terminate at the bus station. Sprowston and Airport park & rides will terminate at Upper King Street. Stops in Castle Meadow have been moved to various nearby streets.

Detailed information will be posted on all affected bus stops tomorrowMthurs/13>, and the bus station travel desk will remain open to callers until 8.30pm. Alternatively, contact Traveline on 0871 2002233, or go to www.traveline.info, or to bus operator websites.

First bus

First Eastern Counties is offering reduced price return travel for tomorrow's celebration. People travelling from as far afield as Aylsham, Hoveton and Wroxham, Blofield Heath, Lingwood, Loddon, Long Stratton, Wymondham and Easton can take advantage of a reduced price return, down from �3.80 for adults and �2.50 for children, to a special price of �2. This special promotion, valid for Norwich area zones 1-5. For more detailed bus information on bus service on the night visit www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/easterncounties/easterncounties/home

Park and Ride

The park and ride will be extending its operating times for the night. The last bus from the city centre will be at 8.30pm and will be operating on a load-and-go basis, rather than to time table. Due to the closure of the city centre from 4pm, the Sprowston and Airport buses will not be able to take passengers further than Tombland. This will be the drop-off and pick-up point. The Postwick bus will drop off and pick up from the Thorpe railway station and then go via Rose Lane, Rouen Road and All Saints Green to the Bus Station. The routes of the Costessey, Thickthorn and Harford services will be unaffected.

Costs are just �1.70 for one adult and up to four children under 16, and �3.50 for two to five adults and four children under 16.

Rail services will be operating as normal. For more information visit www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/nrw/details.html

Car parking

All city centre car parks will be operating as normal, although there will be no entry to The Mall Car Park 2 off Farmers Avenue after 4pm, although the exit will be maintained. Car parking will also be available for the public in the Norwich City FC car park behind the Jarrold Stand, priced �2.

Road closures

The following roads will be closed from 4.00 pm until approximately 9pm:

St. Stephens Street, Surrey Street (between St. Stephens Street and All Saints Green), Westlegate, Theatre Street, Rampant Horse Street, Red Lion Street, Orford Hill, White Lion Street, Castle Meadow, London Street, Castle Street, Arcade Street, Opie Street, St. Andrews Hill, Bedford Street (between Little London Street and London Street), Farmers Avenue