I HOPE you will allow me to highlight to your readers a slight change to the Royal International Air Tattoo’s (RIAT) traffic management system this summer.

From 6am on both Saturday, July 9 and Sunday, July 10, a one-way system will operate on the entire length of Whelford Road, from the Shell Garage on the A417 to ‘Allotment Corner’ in Kempsford.

In previous years, this one-way system ran from the Shell Garage to Pope’s Court in Whelford at which point it reverted to two-way.

The reason for this change is to speed up the movement of cars from the highway into – and out of – our eastern ‘Red’ car parks situated adjacent to Whelford Road.

Not only will this help improve traffic flows during these busy phases but it should enable us to lift the one-way order earlier than in previous years allowing you unrestricted movement in the middle of the day before the one-way traffic flow is reversed during the outbound phase.

In the morning, once RIAT traffic control is satisfied that the vast majority of RIAT-bound vehicles have parked, the restriction will be lifted to allow two-way traffic on the entire length of Whelford Road.

During the departure phase, the one-way system that was in operation in the morning will be reversed.

Timings for this will be determined by RIAT traffic control based on the prevailing traffic flows.

Over the past few months we have been working with Kempsford Parish Council, and communicating with those residents living on Whelford Road who will be most affected by this change.

We are asking people who do not need to be in the vicinity of RAF Fairford over this period to avoid the area at what will be a busy time.

All other one-way systems that are in operation over the Air Tattoo period will remain the same as in 2015.

Thank you.

RICHARD ARQUATI 
RIAT, head of press and public relations