Utter chaos/misleading information/poor traffic Managment
Sunday 11 June 2023 0915 me and my family set off for the show so we could give our selfs plenty of time and have time to look round the static displays before the flying program begins which was set at 11:30. We traveled to the A41 via Stafford lane and was set to start to see some traffic however all was good reasonable traffic and managed to turn onto the A41 we traveled past the Oaken Arms and came to the traffics lights at the junction A41 / A464. Signage stated coach disabled to prices Down the A41 however the road was closed and a line traffic management worker was on his mobile we beeped the horn and indicated we had a blue badge and was ignored we beeped the horn a second time and he just pointed towards the A464 and shouted all traffic to go that way the road is now closed.
My first point is why was the road closed 2 hours and 5 mins before the first plane is expected in the safe area?
I’m aware roads have to close when aircraft are flying a display for health and safety, however this happened extremely prematurely thus having an extreme knock on effect to the A464. My second point, if the rad must close that early then all signage must be removed so stop confusion and information is to be made available to the public that this will happen with timings. My third point on this matter one person manning a very busy, challenging, complex junction is poor management.
0925 we continued on the A464 as told to do so, as we thought there had been improvements or some kind of plan made for everyone entering from this direction. We travelled a little way and found traffic stationary at Boningale nurseries. We were quite some way from Cosford and knew that the gate through this route closed 1 hour before the flying displays. We remained positive and continued. We sat for 90 minutes traveling at total of 1.1 miles. Local residents were taking photos of the traffic and looked upset so I decided to contact Cosford Air Show 01902377922.
1. Inform the air show of the problems.
2. Get an update.
The person on the call could only state that all routes are extremely busy and to be patient and said everyone would be on the grounds by 11:30.
I must admit I was surprised to get such reassurance being an Army Veteran i was optimistic that the planning and execution would be first class.
10.55 We traveled 0.3 miles and all of a sudden the traffic started to move quite quickly we passed the traffic light system where pointing instructions were directed to continue along the A464. Along with everyone else we continued and found signs for the show pointing down Upton lane remaking hopeful we continue for 100 meters and stand still again looking on my maps I could see we where some way from the show ground now and knew we would not make the 11:30 start time. I again called the air show and was getting told that they are aware of the situation and not to worry.
11:15 We had not moved and was not hopeful at all of being at the show by 11.30. We still had 3.5 miles of county road to navigate which were grid locked with local residents, fishing people etc trying to go the opposite way.
11:46 we where still some way from the show and was completely devastated that we had missed the start of the show and the last jump from a C130, chinook display and what ever else flew while we where baking in a car viewing the Shropshire country side burning countless amounts for fuel.
still not in the show but could see high vis I thought it was Viggo Venn from BGT at first. However Fred Karno’s Circus had not finished just yet!
12:18 RAF airmen spotted the blue badge clearly displayed in the window and stopped us and kindly directed us to the out skirts for Cosford camp. We entered camp through the gate at Wattisham way and a follow my car pulled in front and we were told to follow to the disabled parking area. We traced through camp passed the accommodation blocks and hangers on to Kinloss avenue. We then saw more traffic and realised we had been brought to the main entrance.
we joined the queue of traffic and was told to follow the bike badge signs which where displaying use the right lane.
12.36 Cars were being directed left right and all ways we naturally was lead in to a green coned area and got my ticket out and was told this was a vehicle search point.
1. Only vehicles in the right lane where being searched this is not random, as you had stated all disabled badge holders use the right lane this is also a form of discrimination.
2. We had just travelled though camp !
We stopped by a marshal and asked for blue badge parking and was rudely told its full you should have come earlier!
Made a formal complaint and was emailed with excuses of a serious RTA however looking up on line of fire ambulance and police sites and calling there was no serious RTA after pointing this out I got a refund ! As is your right under consumer regulations 2015