With the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games now just weeks away, Staffordshire Moorlands is getting ready to host to the iconic Queen's Baton Relay.

The Queen's Baton Relay is travelling the length and breadth of England for a total of 29 days before culminating at the Opening Ceremony for Birmingham 2022 on 28 July.

The baton is passing through Leek on Tuesday 19th July and the full schedule of times has now been revealed!

Find the schedule below...

Rudyard Lake

The Relay is set to arrive shortly after 5pm when a flotilla of boats from Rudyard sailing and rowing clubs will accompany the Batonbearer across the water. Children from Horton St Michael's Primary School will then perform a song from the Jungle Book in honour of the Lake's namesake Rudyard Kipling.

You can watch proceedings at Rudyard from the rail trackside of Dam Head and down the path alongside the railway. The train will be running back and forth from the station car park. For safety reasons the car parking down by the lake will be closed and there will be limited parking at the Hotel Rudyard.

Leek town centre

Events then move to Leek town centre where the Relay is expected to arrive at around 6.30pm for a hand relay starting at Stanley Street, running down Derby Street, turning left Bath Street, into Stockwell Street and finishing for the celebration in Market Place. The Baton will be carried on the route by four Batonbearers who have been chosen because of the work they do to inspire change in their local communities.

You can watch the Relay by lining the pavements along the route.

Due to the route being through the streets of Leek there will be a number of road closures and parking suspensions on the day.

Road closures and traffic management

The Market Place will be closed from the evening of Monday 18 July. No vehicles will be permitted to park on the Market Place.

Roads affected on 19 July from 4pm - 7pm.

Please note that there may be some disruption earlier but we will be trying to limit this as much as possible.

Roads closed:

• Stanley Street
• Sheep Market
• Russell Street
• Derby Street including access via Sparrow Park
• Bath Street

Due to these closures Ford Street, Market Street, York Street and Deansgate will effectively be blocked. There will also be parking bay suspensions on Derby Street and Bath Street.

Stockwell Street to Church Street (junction with St. Edward Street) A523

The A523 will be closed for the minimal amount of time possible to avoid unnecessary disruption from approximately 6.15pm until 7pm with a traffic diversion in operation. The diversion will direct traffic coming from Mill Street (Macclesfield direction) on the A523 to turn right down St. Edward Street to the traffic lights then left on to Brook Street and through to Haywood Street. Drivers will be able to turn right on to the A523 Ashbourne Road or continue to the traffic lights and junction with Buxton Road and continue on the A53.

This closure will also mean that New Street, Horton Street and Union Street will be blocked for entry and exit.

Car parks

Anyone using the car park off Market Street should be aware that it will not be accessible after 4pm. This will also be the case for Silk Street car park when approaching from Market Street but access from Stockwell Street will be possible until the road is closed at approximately 6.15pm. Vehicles will not be permitted to leave either car park following the closure of Stockwell Street.

Alton Towers

The final stop is at Alton Towers where the Baton will take the ride of its life on a rollercoaster and capture an iconic shot of the Moorlands from a high vantage point.