Commuter awareness campaign for COP26

Commuters from Arran and across North Ayrshire are being urged to plan ahead when travelling to Glasgow in the run up to and during COP26.

Severe transport congestion is expected in and around the city from now.

A public awareness campaign called Get Ready Glasgow aims to provide detailed information on disruption and will be updated regularly at www.getreadyglasgow.com.

The website will provide details on alternative routes, road closure dates and where access will be maintained.

It will also include maps highlighting where and when impacts are most likely to help give the public, businesses, delegates and visitors a clearer idea of what to expect on certain days.

An estimated 5,532 commuters from across North Ayrshire make their way to Glasgow each day and along with 140 world leaders and 25,000 conference delegates expected to attend the conference at Glasgow’s SEC, it is almost inevitable travel disruptions can be expected.

Planned and unplanned protests will also be inevitable.

Nicola Blaney, head of events resilience at Transport Scotland, said: ‘The scale of COP26 is unprecedented in terms of the impact it will have on our transport networks.

‘We know that Hallowe’en weekend, Monday November 1, Tuesday November 2 and Saturday November 6, will all be particularly busy and commuters should expect severe delays.

‘This is due to a combination of road closures around the SEC, including the Clydeside Expressway which closed from Saturday October 23 until Sunday November 14, and the additional demand on the network from those attending the conference.

‘We’d urge everyone to stay informed and plan ahead to make the right journeys at the right times so we can keep Glasgow and the central belt moving as the region takes to the world stage for this once-in-a-lifetime event.’

Get Ready Glasgow is being managed by Glasgow City Council on behalf of COP26 event delivery partners.

A similar campaign was used successfully during the 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2018 European Championships.

Denise Hamilton, head of the council’s COP26 team, said: ‘Glasgow has a long track record of successfully hosting major, international events.

‘This success is based on extensive forward planning.

‘We’ve spent the last 18 months working to ensure that this hugely complex event goes safely and smoothly while we also keep Glasgow moving and open for business.

‘This is going to be the largest gathering of world leaders the UK has ever seen.

‘Making sure it is a safe and successful event for residents and visitors has meant working closely with the conference organisers and Police Scotland to agree security road closures and alternative routes.

‘But now we are ready. All the necessary plans are in place.’