The Olympic torch will be travelling through Stafford borough next year in the build-up to the 2012 London Games – although we’ll have to keep our fingers crossed that it will be coming through Stone.
The torch will arrive in the UK on 18th May 2012 before embarking on a 70-day journey around the UK. It will be carried by 8,000 runners and the aim is to bring it within an hour’s travelling time of 95% of the population.
London 2012 organisers today revealed details of 1,000 communities along the route of the torch relay. On 30th May 2012 – day 12 of the relay – it will travel from Chester to Stoke-on-Trent, calling at Gnosall, Haughton and Stafford along the way. Stafford Borough will be the first point of call in Staffordshire for the Torch.
The full street-by-street route won’t be announced until next year, so we’ll just have to hope that the torch comes thtough Stone on its way from Stafford to Stoke. It could travel along the A34 or perhaps through the town and then up Longton Road towards Rough Close – all guesswork at the moment! It could, of course, not come through Stone at all. We’ll find out next year.
You can have a look at the route map on the BBC News website.
Councillor Mike Smith, deputy leader of Stafford Borough Council and the cabinet member responsible for leisure, said it was brilliant news for the whole borough. He said this morning: “This isn’t about an individual town or villages – this is about the chance for our whole community to get a once in the lifetime opportunity to see one of the iconic symbols of the Olympics on our doorstep and we want everyone to share in those celebrations.”
We have worked very hard behind the scenes, along with the county council, to get the borough on this route and I really hope today’s news will inspire others to organise or get involved with activities throughout 2012 and demonstrate what a great community we have in Stafford, Stone and all the other villages that make up our beautiful borough.”
Pat Corfield, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Customers, said: “We are extremely proud that the Olympic Flame will be coming to Staffordshire. The two days of celebrations will shine a light on the county and highlight the members of our communities who have been chosen to run with the Olympic flame.”
