THE final preparations are being made for the much-anticipated test event at Hadleigh’s Olympic mountain biking course, which will include a shuttle bus service from Leigh rail station.

The Hadleigh Farm Mountain Bike International competition will take place at the course on Sunday July 31 to test the facilities and transport arrangements ahead of next year’s Olympics.

Test events for Olympic sites have been arranged to make sure each venue can cope with the demands of staging them.

Derek Jarvis, councillor responsible for culture and tourism at Southend Council, said: “These events will check the course is correct, and check out the security on the site plus the travel and road arrangements.

“They have planned this event for a quarter of the number of people they expect each day for the real event.”

As with the Games, the majority of visitors are expected to arrive by train, with a shuttle bus service operating from Leigh station to the site, with a park-and-ride service for motorists also operating from Canvey.

It is estimated that between 400 to 600 spectators will arrive at Leigh on each train, with 5,000 people expected.

Visitors can also walk or cycle across Hadleigh Downs to get there, and use cycle routes signposted all the way from Shoebury.

During the test event, parking suspensions are expected in Marine Parade and Thames Drive, Leigh, with Belton Way West closed to traffic and Belton Way East operating as a one-way road.

Once the traffic measures are finalised, Mr Jarvis said letters would be sent to residents in affected streets, with signs also put up to advise motorists.

During the test the station taxi rank will stay open, as will the road to Two Tree Island and the railway car park, which will be used for visitors heading to Old Leigh’s fishing festival, which takes place the same day.

Mr Jarvis said the council has been working to help make sure those who attend also visit Southend.

He added: “We are trying to make the most of it, especially with the tourism side of things. Hopefully people will come and spend some time with us as well.”

Mr Jarvis said a plan was still being worked on to acheive this ahead of next year’s main event.