LUTON is ‘open for business’ on Saturday say police chiefs and Town Hall leaders despite English Defence League and We Are Luton coalition protests in the town.
Beds Police Chief Supt Mike Colbourne and Luton Borough Council leader Hazel Simmons outlined further plans for the protests which will see EDL supporters converge on Park Street and Unite Against Facism, Green Party and Luton Council of Mosques demonstrators gathering in Wardown Park.
Both groups have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with police outlining when and where the protests will take place and what should be expected of them.
We Are Luton demonstrators will march from the museum entrance to Wardown Park at noon along New Bedford Road before turning left into Dunstable Road, then onto Liverpool Road, Collingdon Street and back up to Wardown Park via New Bedford Road.
EDL supporters will march at 12.45pm setting off from Park Viaduct, up Park Street before turning left into Cumberland Street, right into Park Street West and onto the roundabout junction of Park Street and Church Street.
Although shops in the town centre have been encouraged to open as usual and The Mall Luton will be open for trade, roads around the town centre will be closed.
Collingdon Street, Old Bedford Road by the Galaxy Centre, Cheapside, Liverpool Road, Cardigan Street, Inkerman Street, Alma Street, Gordon Street, Wellington Street, King Street, George Street West, the lower half of Chapel Street and Park Street West, Church Street to the junction with St Mary’s Street, Cumberland Street, Park Street to the junction with Manor Road, Chequer Street, Lea Road, Power Court, Vicarage Street, Chobham Street, St Anne’s Road and Station Road will all be closed to vehicles between 7am and the end of the protests (thought to be around 3pm).
New Bedford Road from the junction with Stockingstone Road to the junction with Midland Road, turning right into Telford Way and up to the junction with Dunstable Road, will be closed between 11.30am and 3pm.
Several bus routes will be affected on the day, for more information log onto www.lutontoday.co.uk.
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