ROADS in Helensburgh will be closed to allow the town’s 10K race to take place next month, it’s been announced.

The organisers of the Babcock 10K Series – the opening race of which will be held in Helensburgh on the evening of Thursday, May 5 – have written to residents in the affected streets to warn them of the closures.

The race, which is being held for the first time in three years as a result of the pandemic, starts and finishes at Hermitage Academy and covers Colgrain, East King Street, sections of East and West Argyle Street and a circular route in the west end of the town.

The organisers say the closures are being imposed because Argyll and Bute Council has required the organisers to have a temporary traffic regulation order (TTRO) in place for the event.

However, the road closures will be imposed on a ‘rolling’ basis, meaning none of the streets on the route should be closed for the entire duration of the race.

The route of the Babcock Helensburgh 10K

The route of the Babcock Helensburgh 10K

The approximate timings of road closures between 7.20pm and 8.35pm are as follows.

Start on Cardross Road via Redgauntlet Road to railway bridge at Old Luss Road: 7.20-7.45pm and then 7.55-8.30pm.

Old Luss Road along East King Street to Grant Street: 7.35-8.30pm.

Grant Street, via East and West Argyle Street to Woodend Street: 7.40-8.20pm.

Woodend Street via Rhu Road Higher to Cumberland Avenue: 7.40-8.20pm.

Cumberland Avenue, via Rhu Road Lower and Cairndhu Avenue to West King Street: 7.45-8.10pm.

Top of Cairndhu Avenue along West King Street to Woodend Street: 7.50-8.20pm.

Talisman Crescent, Cardross Road to finish at Hermitage Academy: 7.25-8.35pm.

The Babcock Helensburgh 10K will be run on the evening of Thursday, May 5

The Babcock Helensburgh 10K will be run on the evening of Thursday, May 5

Residents on the roads covered by the route are also being asked to avoid parking on the streets involved after 6pm on the day of the race.

In a letter to residents, race director Debbie Savage said: “Our race forms part of the Babcock 10K Series, formerly the Polaroid 10K series, which is the oldest road running race series in Scotland.

“As such it has become an important fixture in many Scottish runners’ calendars.

“It also helps to showcase Helensburgh and hopefully encourages runners from further afield to return and enjoy the town’s amenities.”