Tickets snapped up for waterslide event

13 September 2015

Tickets for a free waterslide event in Aberdeen city centre as part of In Town Without My Car Day were snapped up within two hours.

The event, which will take place on Belmont Street on Sunday September 20, has all 750 places booked.

Aberdeen City Council Regeneration and Transport spokesman Councillor Ross Grant said: "This is a fantastic reaction to the giant waterslide and it promises to be a really fun event on the day.

"We're looking forward to welcoming everyone to the event where they can also find out how easy it can be to get about the city using alternative forms of transport to a car."

In Town Without My Car Day, sponsored cycle rides and bicycle roadshows are all part of the fun starting on Saturday for European Mobility Week in Aberdeen.

The European Union-backed campaign promotes sustainability and cities are encouraged to take part by signing up to the campaign and pledging to raise awareness by holding events and implementing permanent measures.

2015 will be the sixth year in a row the city is hosting In Town Without My Car Day, and will again result in the closure to motorised traffic of Schoolhill between Blackfriars Street and Back Wynd, along with Belmont Street and Little Belmont Street. The free family fun event will also include: Adventure Aberdeen Bicycle Roadshow and Climbing Wall; City Moves on-street dance school; a bouncy castle and inflatable assault course; Aberdeen Play Forum; street entertainment via Graham Benson and Aberdeen University Circus Skills Society; and face painting and glitter tattoos.

The theme of the national campaign is 'Choose. Change. Combine.' to encourage people to use multiple modes of alternative transport to driving alone, for example taking a bus and then walking a short distance to their destination.

The City Council is holding a series of events to inspire people to try alternatives to using their cars, along with installing a permanent measure to help them to opt for a sustainable mode of transport.

The other events being held as part of European Mobility Week include the Getabout bicycle roadshow in the Duthie Park on Saturday 12 September, the Wee Jaunt Cycle Ride from Duthie Park with associated family events in the park Sunday 13 September, Getabout bicycle roadshow at St. Joseph's RC School on Tuesday 15 September, Getabout bicycle roadshow at Stoneywood School on Wednesday 16 September, and Middleton Park School sponsored cycle on Tuesday 22 September.