The organisers of Download Festival have apologised to customers after they were forced to wait in traffic for hours due to congestion. Many revellers on their way to the rock festival in Donington Park near Castle Donington faced delays of more than two hours on Wednesday, June 7.
Congestion hit the northbound and southbound carriageways of the A453 approaching the roundabout for junction 24 of the M1, the A42 northbound and the M1 northbound between junction 23 to junction 24.
The campsites and campervan field for the festival opened at 12noon on the day, with the entertainment taking place between Thursday, June 8, and Sunday, June 11. Metallica, Bring Me the Horizon and Slipknot are all headlining the event.
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Following the disruption, John Probyn, festival manager at Download issued an apology. “We apologise for the delays for customers coming on site today," reads a statement, published at 10pm yesterday.
"We have been working continuously since first reports this morning with the local authority and transport agencies to minimise these delays. We urge road users to ONLY follow the official travel advice from @downloadfest."
In response to the statement, which was published on Twitter, many customers lashed out at the festival, recounting their struggles with reaching Donington Park. "Worst traffic in 16 years of coming to Download, has not been thought through or thoroughly planned," wrote one user.
"Currently trying to get to access camping and moved less than a mile in 3 hours." Another said: "Seriously hope you're considering compensation.
"We were 4 miles from the site at 2.20pm and at 22.47 we're not even in a car park yet. We've then got to lug all our stuff from east to eco camp and pitch a tent. Absolute shambles."
One added: "I have a 4yr old we have been traveling for 9hrs ! And have to now park somewhere far away from the West carpark where we originally were meant to be! Absolutely a joke @DownloadFest. I have a 4yr old and I'm expected to walk god knows how long to get to mini moshers."
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