Tuesday, May 15 will go down as a historic day in the annals of Bromley with the visit of The Queen. DAVID MILLS looks ahead to the royal occasion.


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BROMLEY is getting ready for the highly anticipated visit of the Queen next week, a key event in her Diamond Jubilee celebrations diary.

Her Majesty and The Duke of Edinburgh will visit Queen's Gardens and The Glades shopping centre on Tuesday, which will showcase exhibits celebrating British fashion designers from the last 60 years.

It will be her first trip to the borough since 1986, when she came to open the Civic Centre and visit Crystal Palace in her Golden Jubilee year.

Falconry displays and a Duke of Edinburgh Award exhibition will also be on show throughout the day in Queen's Gardens.

And there will be a large crown commemorating the Jubilee, made from living plants, as well as a raffle for the official Bromley Jubilee cake.

Tickets will be available on the day and the lucky winner will take home the six-sided cake complete with a crown.

Roving entertainers will also be the heart of an all-day party in Bromley High Street.

Council leader Councillor Stephen Carr said: "The Diamond Jubilee is a once in a lifetime event and we are honoured to showcase what Bromley has to offer.

"Plans for our special event to pay tribute to Her Majesty are being finalised and we’re expecting a fantastic atmosphere in the town centre.

"We are encouraging people to arrive early to ensure they get a good view of the festivities so why not use the free park and ride service from Norman Park?"

ROAD CLOSURES

The A21 Kentish Way and Tweedy Road, Widmore Road and Market Square, Masons Hill, Elmfield Road and Bromley High Street (north and south), will all be closed from 9am to 2pm.

Between these times there will be no vehicle access in or out of the closed roads or areas in between.

Detailed maps of the diversion routes can be viewed on the council's website.

The Westmoreland Road and The Hill car parks will not be affected and will be open as normal.

However the Civic Centre, Mall and Glades car parks will be shut during the closure times above.

A free park and ride service will be in operation from Norman Park with buses running regularly from 6.30am to 6pm with parking available at the park.

Trains will be running as normal from Bromley North and Bromley South stations, with extra carriages to accommodate the extra capacity expected.

Bus routes will be on diversion away from the town centre and a list of affected routes can be found on the council's website at bromley.gov.uk/diamondjubilee

An exhibition by Bromley Local Studies and Archives entitled Celebrating Royalty in Bromley's Boroughs runs from May 11 to June 16 in Central Library in Bromley High Street.