Completion of the latest stage in the transformation of Great Yarmouth’s Golden Mile will be marked on Friday May 25 by a celebratory civic procession including a marching band, horse-drawn landaus, road trains and children from two local schools.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s £2.5 million extension of the seafront improvement adds to the award-winning work carried out by the InteGreat partnership along Regent Road to Britannia Pier. Construction has been carried out by Norfolk County Council’s P&T Partnership led by support and construction services company May Gurney.

It includes:

• A new segregated lane for the horse-drawn landaus, as well as the land train and bicycles;

• Landau waiting shelters and a new toilet block for their drivers;

• A newly-paved, broad pedestrian walkway alongside the slow lane;

• A revised road layout for cars, with a newly-completed high quality surface;

• New lighting;

• High-quality surfacing on the esplanade (the beach-side walkway);

• Attractive new seats.

A competition was held in association with the Great Yarmouth Mercury to name the new segregated slow lane, and the big open area created in the first phase of improvement at the point where Regent Road meets Marine Parade. Friday’s event will include the announcement of the winning suggestions.

The celebration event programme is as follows:

• 11.00 am – Guests gather in the area outside Joyland. Exhibition of plans for the next phase  (planned to start next autumn and extending the seafront improvements to the Pleasure Beach) and of the St George’s Park renovation (starting later in the summer). Music by the Band of T.S. Fearless Winterton Marine Cadets.

• 11.30 – Short speeches and the announcement by the Mayor, Cllr Paul Garrod, of the names for the plaza area and the segregated lane.

• 11.50 – Ribbon cutting by naming competition winners to start the procession, led by a banner announcing the new lane’s name, and the Marine Cadets’ band. The Mayor will follow with ceremonial sword, followed by other civic leaders and special guests (walking or in landaus). Children from Homefield school, Bradwell, and Greenacre school, Great Yarmouth, will follow in land trains and on bicycles.

• 12.15-12.30 – Procession returns. Opportunity for media interviews. Refreshments for invited guests in the American Diner.

For further information please contact John Birchall, Joint Communications Officer, on 01603 222972; or Joanne Butcher, Regeneration Manager, on 01493 846565.