Walking Day draws international guests

INTERNATIONAL guests from South Africa and Warrington’s German twin town Hilden will be among the hundreds of spectators watching the annual Walking Day procession this Friday.
Generations of participants from schools and churches, many accompanied by bands, take part in the procession through the town centre, starting from the Town Hall at 10.30am.
Joining the crowds will be the South African visitors, who are guests of Woolston High School and the German visitors.
No-one has ever been able to pinpoint the exact origin of Walking Day, but is believed this year’s is the 174th annual walk. Certainly, it started in the early 1880s and it is now one of the highlight’s of the town’s calendar.
Warrington Borough Council is asking people to co-operate with the special traffic measures that will be introduced for the day and officers say that disruption will be kept to a minimum.
The inner town centre will be closed to all traffic from 8.30am until about 12.30pm. All town centre roads are expected to re-open by 12.45pm.
Access to Mersey Street car park will be via Academy Street and Academy Way, which are off both Mersey Street and Buttermarket Street. Exit is via Bank Street to Mersey Street at all times.
Delays on main roads are expected and motorists are being urged to be patient and take extra care if delayed by walking groups going to/from the procession.
Bus and National Express Coach services will be diverted via Midland Way and continue to use the Bus Interchange. Some town centre stops will not be served as buses are diverted and there is expected to be delays due to buses being held up behind processions.
The only exception is the limited service 66 that will arrive/depart on Wilderspool Causeway near to the Warrington Borough Transport depot.
Further details are available from Contact Warrington on 01925 443322.