Stormont Estate Access Arrangements - Diamond Jubilee Party

26TH & 27TH JUNE

UPDATE

Please note that on Wednesday 27 June Sitting Day rules will not apply and parking will be as normal for a Wednesday.

The overflow car park will not be available.

 

Background

1. The NIO will hold a party to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee on the Stormont Estate on Wednesday 27 June.  The event will involve significant numbers of people coming onto the Estate on what will be a normal working day for Assembly staff.  There will be significant disruption to traffic in and around the Stormont Estate on Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27 June.

Vehicular Access

2. Restrictions on vehicular access will as follows:

Monday 25 June

  • There will be no overnight parking in Assembly car parks

Tuesday 26 June

  • Prince of Wales entrance (Newtownards Road) and the Prince of Wales Avenue will be closed.
  • Massey Avenue entrance will be open until 10.30am and closed thereafter.
  • The Stoney Road entrance will be open as normal.
  • Assembly car parks on the Estate will remain open however roadside car parking spaces within the Estate will not be available. 
  • In addition to the normal security arrangements, vehicle checkpoints will be positioned at the entrances to all car parks, where vehicles will be checked.  These checkpoints will be operated by PSNI and checks will involve the opening of bonnets and boots. Assembly car parks will also be staffed by Assembly Security Officers who will carry out vehicle checks.
  • PSNI may also operate various other checkpoints throughout the Estate.
  • Entry and egress to/from the Estate from 10.00am onwards will be via Stoney Road only. 
  • There will be no overnight car parking in Assembly car parks

Wednesday 27 June

  • Prince of Wales entrance (Newtownards Road) and the Prince of Wales Avenue will be closed.
  • Massey Avenue entrance will be open between 7:30am and 10.00am only.
  • The Stoney Road entrance will be open as normal.
  • From 10.00am until close of the event all access (into and out of the Estate) for staff and visitors will be via the Stoney Road entrance. 
  • Sitting day car parking arrangements apply
  • Assembly car parks on the Estate will remain open (with one exception – see point below) however roadside car parking spaces within the Estate will not be available. 
  • The overflow car park will be unavailable.
  • In addition to the normal security arrangements, vehicle checkpoints will be positioned at the entrances to all car parks, where vehicles will be checked.  These checkpoints will be operated by PSNI. Assembly car parks will be also be staffed by Assembly Security Officers who will carry out vehicle checks.
  • PSNI may also operate various other checkpoints throughout the Estate.
  • The car park at Rosepark will be closed and will be used as an event bus park.
  • Castlehill Road will be closed for vehicular access from 10.00am onward.  (Only event buses and residents will be allowed access.)    

 

3. Assembly Security and Ushering staff will work to support, assist and minimise disruption however the requirement to check vehicles will undoubtedly lead to delays entering the site and the reduction in the number of spaces available will limit the number of vehicles that can park on-site. Staff are therefore encouraged to be in the Estate before 10.00am.

Pedestrian Access

4. Restrictions on pedestrian access will be as follows:

Tuesday 26 June

  • Prince of Wales pedestrian entrances will be closed all day.
  • Pedestrian access through Massey Avenue, Stoney Road and Dundonald House will be unaffected.

Wednesday 27 June

  • Prince of Wales pedestrian entrances will be closed all day.
  • Massey Avenue pedestrian gate will be open 7.30am to 10.00am, then closed until close of the event.
  • Pedestrian access through Stoney Road and Dundonald House pedestrian gates will be unaffected.

Bus Services

5. Bus services will operate as follows:

Tuesday 26 June

  • Buses will enter the Estate as normal until 10.00am and normal bus routes will be serviced until this time.
  • After 10.00am buses will enter and leave via Stoney Road and only the stops at Castle Buildings and Craigantlet Buildings will be serviced.

Wednesday 27 June

  • Buses will enter the Estate as normal until 10.00am and normal bus routes will be serviced until this time.
  • After 10.00am buses will enter and leave via Stoney Road and only the stops at Castle Buildings and Craigantlet Buildings will be serviced.  Staff should be aware that timetables are likely to be disrupted on the 27th given the volume of traffic expected on the Newtownards Road.

General

6. As there will be a reduced number of spaces available on the Estate staff are encouraged to:

  • use public transport on both days; or,
  • car share with other members of staff.

7. Staff with tickets for the event on the 27 June should make use of the park and ride facilities that will be available for attendees and to avoid bringing their vehicles onto the Estate if possible.  Access to the event for ticket holders allocated by the Assembly will be via Massey Avenue; access to the event for tickets issued by Ticketmaster will be via the Prince of Wales gate on the Upper Newtownards Road.  Staff with allocated tickets may approach the event from the steps outside Parliament Buildings and security passes are acceptable as photographic ID along with the ticket.

8. There is likely to be a search of Parliament Buildings on Tuesday 26 June.

9. Given the heightened security around the Estate both on the day of the event and leading up to it, staff should ensure that they wear their security passes at all times.

10. Due to access restrictions on the Estate, staff who work part-time, have caring responsibilities or who have medical/dental appointments etc are advised to make arrangements to ensure their commitments are met. This may require seeking approval for annual/flexi leave from line management.

Deliveries and Postal Services

11. Deliveries to and from the Estate will be curtailed with the result that some normal services will not be available on Wednesday 27 June.  For example, there will be no delivery of hard copies of the Official Report (Hansard).  Those reports will be delivered in hard copy format on Thursday 28 June, but the full report will be available as usual on the Assembly website.

Newspapers

12. There will be no newspaper delivery on Wednesday 27 June and therefore the Assembly media monitoring service will be unavailable.

13. The patience and goodwill of all staff will be greatly appreciated on the days these restrictions are in place.  Staff should be mindful that these arrangements may be subject to further changes and, if required, they will be advised by postmaster.

14. Senior staff will meet with Commission Members and Whips detailing the arrangements for Members.