ROAD closures and parking restrictions will be introduced around Earls Court during the Olympics, Games bosses have warned.

The venue will host volleyball between July 28 and August 12 and, as part of Olympic guidelines, zones around arenas must be traffic-free. Up to three volleyball sessions will take place each day, beginning as early as 9.30am and finishing as late as 11.30pm. The final six days will have two sessions, with play lasting from 1pm to 10.30pm.

It is proposed Lillie Road is shut to all traffic except buses and coaches between North End Road and Warwick Road each day between 6am and 1am. Cars would be diverted via North End Road, the A4, Hammersmith Road and Warwick Road. TfL says a peak time journey between Hammersmith and Notting Hill would increase by 12 minutes as a result.

Chef Elliot Thompson, who gets the bus to work in Hammersmith every day, said: “I know what the traffic in the borough is like at the best of times and I am dreading what this could add to my journey,”

Parking rules in zones surrounding the venue are also being tightened.

In Zone D, north of Lillie Road, restricted hours will be extended by three hours from 9am to 8pm and in Zone F, south of Lillie Road, permit holder only parking will be extended to include Sundays between 2pm and 4pm. Both zones will have their maximum pay and display durations reduced to two hours. The current limit of eight hours will remain in Coomer Place to meet the needs of businesses.

A one-way system will also be imposed in parts of Seagrave Road, Ongar Road, and Merrington Road to allow for security checks on coaches entering the car park.

The Lillie Road Bus Depot, next to the Earls Court venue, will be closed for security reasons, meaning a temporary station will be set up in Seagrave Road to allow the 190 to terminate.

More than 12,800 people are expected at the venue every day, with ticket holders given a zone 1-6 Oyster-style travel ticket to discourage car journeys to the site. TfL estimates more than 82 per cent of spectators will arrive by Tube to either Earl’s Court or West Brompton.

Further disruption is set for July 29 when the cycling event comes through Fulham and Chelsea via Putney Bridge. Special Olympic lanes will also be in operation on the Hammersmith Flyover, which is still part-closed.