TRAVEL DISRUPTION: Vaisakhi nagar kirtan procession this Sunday

It’s the annul Vaisakhi nagar kirtan procession this Sunday (18 May).

The event will see people walking from gurdwaras in Hockley in Birmingham, to Oldbury in Sandwell.  

Together with councils, we’ve been working with the organisers, the fire and ambulance services, and other partners, on the safety and security plans for the event.

The nagar kirtan runs from 9.30am-4.30pm, but the safety and security operation runs before and after the event, with road closures in place from 8.30am. 

To minimise disruption, organisers will reopen the roads as soon as the procession has safely moved on. Roads will only be closed for as long as is absolutely necessary, but journeys in the area will be disrupted. 

WATCH: Officers from the Smethwick neighbourhood policing team share their important safety and security advice.

Here’s our advice on making the event a day to remember:

• Plan your journey - use the bus or train to avoid traffic jams and road closures near the high street’s gurdwaras and park

• If you must drive, give yourself plenty of time for your journey and park legally and considerately – you may be fined or your car towed away if you do not

• Do not leave anything on display in your car and follow our car security advice 

• #BeSafeBeSound – if you see or hear something which doesn’t feel right, report it to security or police straight away. Do not wait for someone else to do it. In an emergency, always call 999