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After several false starts during the pandemic, a popular Birmingham community running event will return this weekend marking a special anniversary. The Royal Sutton Fun Run returns to Sutton Coldfield on Sunday, May 29 marking its 40th anniversary and first under its old name for 20 years, with the event being called the Great Midlands Fun Run from 2003 to 2019.
The popular event which sees adults, children and even dogs take on an 8.5 mile course through the streets of Sutton Coldfield and the town’s famous Sutton Park, is back in 2022 having missed out the two previous years due to the coronavirus pandemic. Rearranged dates in 2020 and options for 2021 were pushed back as Covid took hold.
But this year the event will see the previously familiar sight of runners starting off in the town centre, then run up and out of the town northwards along Mill Street and Lichfield Road before skirting the park. They will then enter it at Boldmere Gate, snaking through the beauty spot, up the notorious Cardiac Hill and then down through Four Oaks and back into the centre to the finish line.
Read more : Sutton Coldfield fun run returning with key changes
As well as thousands of runners, thousands more will line the streets and take to the park to cheer on those taking part as many raise money for local and national good causes. This year event organiser Tracey Spare is hoping runners will help break the £5 million barrier in funds raised since the fun run began, with the current total at £4.83 million.
To enable to runners to have a safe journey around the town during the event, which will start at 11am, a number of road closures and bus diversions will be in place from around an hour before the run starts until around 3pm in the afternoon. While two roads right in the centre, Lower Parade and South Parade, will be closed until 4.30pm. And Brassington Avenue will have a two-way system while other roads are closed.
Sutton residents looking to get around the town on Sunday are advised to watch out for the closures, plan ahead if they need to be somewhere and where possible ditch the car and use public transport.
Event organiser Tracey Spare said: “In the interests of the safety of participants and spectators, We have agreed a series of local road closures with Birmingham City Council.
“The closures will take place between 10.15am and 3.00pm on Sunday, 29 May 2022. Lower Parade and South Parade in Sutton Coldfield town centre will remain closed until 4.30pm.”
Royal Sutton Fun Run road closures
The following roads will be shut from 10.15am to 3pm:
Four Oaks Road
* Lichfield Road between Four Oaks Road and High Street, Sutton.
* Anchorage Road
* High Street
* Mill Street
* The Parade
* Lower Parade
* South Parade
* Brassington Avenue – a two-way system will be implemented for the duration of the road closure to permit vehicles access to and exit from the Gracehcurch Shopping Centre car park and surrounding pay and display car parks.
* Park Road between Garrard Gardens & Brassington Avenue
* Upper Clifton Road
* Clifton Road
* Somerville Road
* Monmouth Drive – from Stonehouse Road to Somerville Road. This will reopen at 12.45pm after all entrants have entered Sutton Park at Boldmere Gate.
Somerville Road from the junction with Monmouth Drive – access-only to Wyndley Leisure Centre and swimming baths will be allowed from 12.45pm. No traffic will be permitted beyond the leisure centre car park as there is no access to Town Gate, Sutton Town Hall, Railway Station, Tamworth Road, Lichfield Road, Good Hope Hospital or Sutton town centre via Somerville Road.
Four Oaks Railway Station access will be maintained from Mere Green, along Lichfield Road throughout the duration of the road closures and from Wentworth Road off the Four Oaks Estate.
Four Oaks Estate – For the duration of the road closures from 10.15am to 3pm, access to and exit from Four Oaks Park will be controlled at Wentworth Rd at the junction with Four Oaks Road, with access towards Mere Green via Lichfield Road only. Residents will be permitted to exit the Four Oaks Estate via the Wyvern Road junction with Lichfield Road between 10.15am and 11.30am to Tamworth Road ONLY.
Bus diversions for the 40 th Royal Sutton Fun Run
Diversions for bus services affected, from the first bus on Sunday (May 29) to about 4pm:
Service 5, 77 and 907to Sutton Coldfield
Will turn right to Holland Rd and use temporary stop.
Service 5, 77 and 907 from Sutton Coldfield
Depart Holland Rd, then continue left Lower Queen St, to temporary stop opposite Aldi.
Service 6 to Sutton Coldfield
Mere Green Island, Mere Green Rd, Slade Rd, right Weeford Rd, Whitehouse Common Rd, right Rectory Rd, left Coleshill St, right Victoria Rd, Lower Queen St, bear left Lower Queen St, left Upper Holland Rd to Temporary Stop.
Service 6 from Sutton Coldfield
Depart temporary stop, Upper Holland Rd, Coleshill St, right Rectory Rd, left Whitehouse Common Rd, Weeford Rd left Slade Road, Mere Green Rd to Mere Green Island, normal line of route.
Service X4 Birmingham to Sutton Coldfield
Birmingham Rd, (Empire Cinema) right Holland Rd, (temporary stop in Upper Holland Rd after Lower Queen St) left Lower Queens St, left Queen St, to stop opposite Aldi, then normal line of route.
Service X4 to Minworth plus X14
Holland Rd, (temporary stop near Duke St, continue Upper Holland Rd, Coleshill St, right Rectory Rd, normal line of route
Service X4 from Falcon Lodge to Birmingham
Rectory Rd, left Coleshill St, right Victoria Rd, Lower Queen St. (temporary stop opposite Aldi)
Service X3, X5 – Sutton Coldfield for Mere Green and onwards
Depart temporary stop, Upper Holland Rd, Coleshill St, right Rectory Rd,left Whitehouse Common Rd. Weeford Rd, (Drivers must look out for passengers waiting at stops towards Mere Green that wish to travel to Birmingham and allow them board).
Advised buses are travelling a reverse operation) Slade Rd, Little Sutton Rd, Grange Rd, Gibbons Rd, Sherifoot Ln, Hill Village Rd to a temporary terminus near Mere Green Island.
Service X3, X5 – Lichfield/Roughley to Birmingham
Temporary Terminus at Mere Green, Hill Village Rd, right Sherifoot Ln, right Gibbons Rd, left Grange Ln continue to Weeford Rd Tx, then continue Weeford Rd, Whitehouse Common Rd, right Rectory Rd, left Coleshill St, right Victoria Rd, Lower Queen St, continue Queen St to temporary stop opposite Aldi car park, the via Queen St to Birmingham Rd.
Service X14 – Birmingham to Sutton Coldfield
Rectory Rd, left Coleshill St, right Victoria Rd, Lower Queen St. left Upper Holland Rd (temporary stop)
Service X14 – Sutton Coldfield to Birmingham
Upper Holland Rd, continue Coleshill St, right Rectory Rd to normal line of route
Temporary Stops are to be sited at
1. Queens Street Opposite Aldi car park
Services 5. X4. 77. 907. (X3. X5 to Birmingham) Blue Arrow
2. Holland Road at Duke Street
Services 5. (X4. Sutton Turn Backs). 907 Red Arrow
3. Upper Holland Road after the junction of Lower Queen Street
Services 6. X14. X4 to Falcon Lodge and Minworth, X3. X5 from Birmingham Plum Arrow.
Town centre parking for Royal Sutton Fun Run
A number of Birmingham City Council pay and display car parks will be available within the town centre and within a few-minutes-walk to the two assembly areas.
Sutton Coldfield town centre car parks and their respective postcodes
Sunday 8am to 6pm
Duke Street, B72 1QH
South Parade B72 1ST
Lower Reddicroft B73 6AZ
Reddicroft, B73 6BN
Station Street, B73 6AT
Anchorage Road, B74 2PH
Victoria Road – NO LONGER OPEN
Parking fees
Up to 2 hours – £1.30
Up to 10 hours – £2.30
Gracechurch Shopping Centre car park will also be open from 9am with access from Brassington Avenue. A flat day rate for Sunday of £1 for the whole day is payable.
Exiting from Gracechurch during the event, until 3pm when the diversion will be lifted will bring motorists out onto Brassington Avenue, which for the duration of the event will become two-way with a 20mph speed limit.
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