Heavy police presence and road closures expected for Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Windsor

A heavy police presence and a number of road closures will be in place in Windsor next week as French President Emmanuel Macron arrives for a state visit.

President Macron and his wife Brigitte will be visiting the town from Tuesday, July 8 and Thursday, July 10 and will be staying at Windsor Castle.

The Royal Borough has said it is working closely with Thames Valley Police (TVP), the Crown Estate and other key partners to ‘minimise disruption’ to those in the area.

Thames Valley Police said residents and visitors can expect to see more police officers over the coming days as party of a ‘comprehensive security operation’.

The Windsor neighbourhood policing team will be stepping up their patrols around the town to support business owners and residents.

The force also has a number of other policing teams in the area to provide reassurance and advice, including armed officers, its mounted section, dogs unit and drone teams.

Officers will also be out and about in the town as part of Project Servator, a policing tactic used to disrupt a range of criminality.

Superintendent Andrew Cranidge MVO, tactical commander for the policing operation surrounding the state visit, said: “As the eyes of the world turn to Windsor, we are committed to ensuring the visit runs smoothly, safely, and with minimal disruption to our communities.

“During the event and in the days leading up to it, you will likely see more police activity than usual, including our police dogs and our mounted section walking the streets and our drones will be flying as eyes in the skies.”

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“Please come and say hello and speak to us if you have any concerns.

“Day-to-day policing will continue as normal, and I would like to thank the residents and businesses in Windsor for their cooperation and look forward to a memorable and positive occasion for the town and the wider Thames Valley.”

Meanwhile, a number of road closures will be in place from 8.45am until 4pm on Monday for a rehearsal and on Tuesday for the procession.

These roads include Sheet Street, High Street, Park Street, Thames Street, Castle Hill, Thames Avenue, Barry Avenue, River Street, St Albans Street and Farm Yard.

The B470 King Edward VII, B470 Windsor Road, Thames Avenue and B470 River Street should be open by 1pm.

To allow for troop movements from Combermere Barracks, ‘no waiting’ will be in operation from midnight on Monday until 2pm on Tuesday on parts of the A308 at Osborne Road and Frances Road.

Several roads in Windsor will be closed next Monday and Tuesday from 10.50am to 11.20am and 12.40pm to 1.15pm.

These include the A308 Osborne Road from its junction with Alma Road roundabout, the A308 Frances Road, St Leonards Road from Bolton Road roundabout, the A332 Kings Road form its junction with Bolton Road, the A308 Kings Road roundabout and the A308 Albert Road from Shaw Farm Gate.

People are asked to avoid the area during these times due to likely delays.

While most of the public car parks in Windsor will be open as usual, the council car parks at Romney Lock Road, River Street, and King Edward VII Avenue will be closed.

Those with on-street parking permits for certain areas of the town centre will not be allowed to use them from midnight on Monday until 3pm on Tuesday.

The Royal Borough is offering free alternative parking at the multi-storey car park in Victoria Street from 6pm on Sunday, July 6 until 6pm on Tuesday, July 8.

Earlier this week, Thames Valley Police said airspace restrictions will be in place over Windsor between Monday and Tuesday next week.

The airspace will be restricted for aircrafts, including drones over and around Windsor, except for emergencies.

More information can be found on the Civil Aviation Authority’s website at www.caa.co.uk/ 

Visit: www.rbwm.gov.uk/community-and-living/state-visit for more information on the state visit.