LOCAL people are being told of plans to minimise traffic disruption from the British Motocross Grand Prix at Matterley Estate on the weekend of June 26-27.

Thousands of spectators are expected to attend the event, arriving on Friday and Saturday and leaving Sunday, putting pressure on locals roads, the A31 and A272.

Spitfire Link will be closed for several hours after the event on the Sunday to funnel traffic quickly onto the M3 instead of clogging up Winnall roundabout at Junction 9.

Event organisers have written to local organisations outlining the traffic and noise management that will be put in place over the weekend.

With traffic entering and leaving the Grand Prix site speed limits will be in place.

On the A272 speed will be restricted to 40mph from 10am Wednesday June 23 till 2pm Monday June 28 from the Cheesefoot Head Car Park to the Telegraph Poles east of Gate K.

On the A31 40mph will be the limit from 5am on Friday June 25 to 10pm on Sunday June 27. The speed restriction will apply from Rodfield Lane to Percy Hobbs Roundabout on the westbound A31.

The gaps in the central reservation on the A31 between the Percy Hobbs roundabout and the Lady Croft Farm roundabout will be closed from 5am Friday June 25 until 10pm Sunday June 27.

Organisers advice the reopening times are dependent on the volume of traffic remaining on the site.

Traffic lights will control traffic at Gate K, when required from 10am Wednesday June 23 till 2pm Monday June 28.

The Spitfire Link from the Spitfire roundabout northbound will be closed from 4pm to 8pm on Sunday June 27 to force traffic onto the M3 southbound at Junction 10. This ensures that the traffic does not back up along the A31.

All traffic exiting on the A31 will head west towards Winchester; and those leaving on the A272 will have to head east towards Cheriton and Bramdean.

Cheesefoot Head Car Park will be closed to prevent people parking and attempting to walk into site on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Organisers say the Noise Management Plan will include noise monitoring in various places on Sunday morning, especially in accordance to the wind direction on the day and will otherwise remember the same with free range monitoring of evening entertainment as well.

The event hotline number during the event is 01962 855891. The pre-event contact number if required: 07498 244999. Email queries to info@britmxgrandprix.com.