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You are in: Somerset > Entertainment and Leisure > Carnival > News and Photos > Essential carnival 2005 information

Squibbing at Bridgwater Carnival 2004 (Andy Baker)

Squibbing at Bridgwater Carnival 2004

Essential carnival 2005 information

If you're planning to go to one of Somerset's carnivals this November, you'll find some useful advice and information on this page. Follow the links on the right for details on each of the carnivals on the Somerset County Guy Fawkes circuit.

Motorists are being asked to take extra care as they travel across the area as the giant floats are taken each day between the eight participating venues.

"The most movement of carts will be at night when traffic is at its minimum, but there are times when carts are on the roads during peak periods"

Marcus Baker

Marcus Baker from the Mid-Somerset Gangs' and Features' Association, Somerset's largest body of carnival clubs, is urging motorists to co-operate with clubs.

"The most movement of carts will be at night when traffic is at its minimum, but there are times when carts are on the roads during peak periods," he said.

"If a support vehicle approaches you warning you of the oncoming slow wide load, please pull over and wait for the cart to pass you by.

"This may take a few minutes depending on where you meet the vehicles.

"Villages like Croscombe, Pilton, Coxley, Ashcott and Greinton need to be negotiated carefully due to parked vehicles, overhead cables and narrower roads.

"Carnival carts are fragile loads and the main obstructions are low hanging trees over the carriageway.

"This is why you may see carts moving on the opposite side of the road when approaching traffic.

"The carts are restricted to a maximum of 20mph and will have been given a vehicle special order and applied for a road movement order for the purposes of the journey."

You should be aware of carnival traffic on these dates:

Thursday 3 November

  • from 7pm travelling to Bridgwater on the A361, A39, A372, A37 and A371

Friday 4 November

  • from 6am travelling to Bridgwater on the A361, A39, A372, A37 and A371

Monday 7 November

  • from 9pm travelling to Shepton Mallet on the A38, A361, A39, A372, A37 and A371

Tuesday 8 November

  • from 9am travelling to Shepton Mallet on the A38, A361, A39, A372 and A37

Wednesday 9 November

  • from 9am travelling to Shepton Mallet on the A38, A361, A39, A372 and A37, and from 10pm travelling to Wells on the A371

Thursday 10 November

  • from 9pm to Wells from Midsomer Norton on the A367, A37 and A371

Friday 11 November

  • from 9pm travelling to Glastonbury on the A39

Sunday 12 November

  • from 8am travelling to Weston-super-Mare on the A39, A367, A372, A38 and A370

Tuesday 15 November

  • from 8am travelling back to carnival sheds across mid-Somerset on the A370, A38, A361, A39, A372, A37 and A371

You can get the latest travel news in bbc.co.uk/somerset's travel section and on BBC Somerset Sound - the links are on the right.

Careful where you throw coins!

The charity collections are an important part of the Somerset carnival season, and the organisers are always keen to stress that the carnivals aren't a free show.

But they're asking you only to throw coins towards the collection trailers.

Please don't throw any coins at the other carts; please don't throw them too hard so they hit people on the other side of the road.

A warning for parents: please look after your kids and don't let them run into the road to pick up coins.

Walking towards the flow of the carts or alongside the carts is especially dangerous: let the carts pass you or walk behind them.

last updated: 31/10/07

You are in: Somerset > Entertainment and Leisure > Carnival > News and Photos > Essential carnival 2005 information



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