City council announce schedule for Pope's visit to Glasgow

GLASGOW City Council has unveiled plans for dealing with the the Pope's visit later this month.

Roads and schools will close, while bin collections days will be changed.

Around 3000 letters are being sent to homes and businesses near Bellahouston Park, where Benedict XV1 will celebrate Mass on Thursday, September 16, to inform them of the arrangements.

Robert Booth, the council's executive director of land and environmental services, said: "The Papal Mass will be a huge event, with up to 100,000 people expected to come to Bellahouston Park.

"To make the best possible arrangements for such an event inevitably means that changes to normal services and arrangements will be necessary for a short time.

"We are ensuring that any such changes are restricted as much as they possibly can to minimise disruption to local residents and businesses."

Roads will close to allow transport, parking and security for the event at the south side of the park.

The greenspace will be closed from 3pm on Wednesday, September 15, and will remain closed until Friday, September 17.

Bellahouston Leisure Centre and the Palace Of Art For Sports Excellence will also be shut during that period, with Bellahouston Ski And Snowboard Centre and House For An Art Lover both closed on the Thursday.

The day of uplift for brown wheeled bins has also changed from the Thursday to the Saturday for residents living nearby.

Due to road closures and restrictions in the surrounding area and the arrangements for parking, Hazelwood School and Bellahouston Academy will close all day on the Thursday, with many other schools in the area closing at noon. Hospital staff across central Scotland will also be placed on high alert for the visit of the Pontiff.

Fears over the Pope's health have led to every hospital on or near his route between Edinburgh and Glasgow being asked to make preparations.

For full information on the Pope's visit go to www.glasgow.gov.uk/papalvisit

Meanwhile, the Pope's personal astronomer will give a lecture at the Glasgow Science Centre a week before the Papal visit.

Brother Guy Consolmagno, will host God's Mechanics: The Religious Life of Techies, at the attraction's planetarium.

The Vatican observatory planetary scientist and research astronomer will discuss how religion works in a society shaped by science.

He said: "I am delighted to return to Glasgow to talk about my interactions with techies about their take on religion. Their stories are quirky, funny, and thought provoking."

His lecture takes place on Thursday, September 9.

To find out more visit: www.glasgowsciencecentre.org

SIC: TG/UK