THE centre of Tavistock will be closed to traffic next Wednesday as the town celebrates the annual Goose Fair day.
Thousands of people are expected to flock to the event and police have put in place a number of measures to accommodate traders and visitors.
Road closures will take effect from 5.30pm on Tuesday October 12 and remain in place until 7am on Thursday October 14. The roads affected are Plymouth Road from Drake?s Statue to Bedford Square, the square itself, Abbey Place, Russell Street, Market Street, Market Road and Canal Road.
Traffic from Okehampton will continue along Stannary Bridge Road, Mount Tavy Road, Dolvin Road, Abbey Rise and Whitchurch Road ? this route will be two-way throughout.
Plymouth-bound drivers will be directed through Whitchurch Road, to rejoin the A386 at Grenofen.
Cornwall-bound drivers will be directed onto the A386 using Anderton Lane, which will be one-way, apart from a short stretch for access into James Road and Anderton Court.
The A386 from Plymouth will be two-way to the roundabout at the junction of Callington Road and Ford Street. The A390 from Callington will also be two-way to this point.
Ford Street will be two-way, as will the Launceston Road to its junction with Spring Hill.
West Street will be one-way northbound throughout and Vigo Bridge will be one-way approaching Parkwood Road to allow residents? access. Pixon Lane will be a no through road, for access only.
Sgt Ian Woods, of Tavistock Police, said: ?With the combined effects of reduced parking, with a greater volume of traffic, to ensure free passage for all there will be many additional parking restrictions by way of no waiting cones.
?All residents and visitors are asked to co-operate ? as in previous years a tow-away policy of any vehicle causing an obstruction will be in operation.?
Sgt Woods warned disabled drivers that the cones and the tow-away policy applied to everyone and said the car park at Abbey Rise was specially designated for disabled drivers for the day.
?Any vehicle causing an obstruction will be towed away at the cost of a £30 fixed penalty notice and an additional fee which will be payable in full before the car is released,? he said.
Park and ride schemes will be operated by Tavistock Lions Club during the day.
They will be situated at the Knightstone end of Yelverton Aerodrome, Harford Bridge Camp Site on the A386 just outside Tavistock and Lumburn Rise on the A390 Callington Road. The facility will be in operation between 9am and 10pm with the car parks being patrolled by Lions stewards and the police.
Sgt Woods said: ?Goose Fair is a good day, enjoyed by many thousands of people. The police, town and borough councils understand some local people will be inconvenienced by the event ? it is only one day of the year and a nationally known event which brings in visitors from all over the country.
?We ask for your forebearance, patience and co-operation to make it yet another successful year.?
l From midnight on Saturday October 9, West Devon Borough Council will close its Bedford and Wharf car parks for a week for fairground rides.
On fair day itself the council?s Russell Street, Chapel Street and Riverside car parks will also be closed. Abbey car park will be available for blue badge holders only, and charges will apply.
Tavistock bus station will be closed and given over to fairground rides.
All car parks except the Bedford and the Wharf will reopen as normal on Thursday October 14.