ENJOY the Games – that’s the message from Dorset County Council’s transport department.

Head of traffic Matthew Piles said that the county council was doing everything it could to make sure life would stay as normal as possible for people during the Olympic Games.

He explained the plans for visitors coming into the area to watch the sailing and for residents who live and work in the area.

He said: “When people hear about what we are planning they are concerned. Once they have spoken to us they can understand what we are doing to help them and make sure the transport works well.

“The important thing is to enjoy Weymouth and Portland in 2012.

“We want people to have a good memory of us and transport is one of the things that matters the most.”

The Esplanade and King Street from the Jubilee Clock to Weymouth Station will be closed every day from 10am to 10pm. Before 10am people will be able to get along the prom for deliveries.

Visitors will be encouraged to use the two park and ride sites in Dorchester or catch the train into Weymouth. People will be able to book places on the transport.

The Olympic Delivery Auth-ority (ODA) will take control of the new Mount Pleasant park and ride site at Weymouth during the Games and use it exclusively for 2012 ticket holders.

The ODA has confirmed it is in talks with the authority in a bid to find alternative sites for regular users of the park and ride scheme in Weymouth.

In total, 8,000 park and ride spaces will be available in Dorset to cope with the extra demand during the Games.

Visitors will arrive into the train station or the park and ride facility at Swannery car park. There will be lots of temporary bicycle stands and several walking routes for visitors and pedestrians to follow with 12-metre-high signs for directions.

Residents who normally park on The Esplanade will be accommodated in car parks behind the sea front and holidaymakers will have permits or scratch cards and be able to park in designated car parks or at the long stay car parking facilities close to Lodmoor County Park.

Residents in Barrack Road and Horsford Street on the main walkway to the Nothe ticketed area will face parking restrictions during peak times but will have designated spaces in the car parks behind Brew-er’s Quay and opposite the Nothe Tavern.

Mr Piles said people should start thinking about their travel plans now, how they were going to get to and from work and consider alternative routes or taking public transport.

Mr Piles said: “We’re making sure residents and businesses can go about their business as usual. We want to make sure that vulnerable users can have home help and deliveries of meals on wheels and that people with parking permits can be accommodated in town and the Nothe area. We want to make sure this is a success and people enjoy the Games.”

n ONE business said it has been preparing for seven years to welcome the world to Weymouth.

Fish ‘n’ Fritz on Market Street have been speaking to suppliers, organising delivery times and getting staff trained in first aid and hospitality. He said they had menus in different languages.

They have also put in a disabled toilet and have a menu available in braille.

Owner Paul Hay said that he was passionate about the Olympics and Paralympics and that ever since it was announced that the Games would be coming he had been preparing.

He said that staff had been working on their plans to get to work. He said: “Most of the staff live within walking distance, so they don’t have to get the bus.

“It’s only me that lives outside of town. I come in on my motorbike and park but with the free transport and park and ride it’s made it easy to get about.

He added: “I’m so passionate about the Olympics and Paralympics from the beginning I can’t wait for it to come down here. Bring it on.”

You need to know this

• TOWN BRIDGE The Town Bridge lifting times will be changing to allow people to get to and from the Nothe site.

The new times for the Olympics will be 7.30am, 9.30am, 1pm, 2pm, 4pm, 7pm, 8pm, 9pm, 10pm.

• PARK DISTRICT The Park District will function ‘as normal’. Permit holders will not be affected.

Scratch cards for hotels will function as normal.

Traffic wardens will be on hand to make sure no one parks in the area that shouldn’t park there.

• WEYMOUTH PAVILION There will be no car access to the Pavilion.

• TORCH RELAY The only road closure will be for the evening event on Weymouth Beach on Thursday, July 12.

The roads will remain open. Dorset police will be in charge of the outer rolling road blocks, advising motorists.

Vehicles will be stopped as the torch relay approaches but all roads will stay open.