M5 warning as Glastonbury 2024 means ‘hours of delays’ on major motorway
Motorists have been issued a warning regarding the M5 as the Glastonbury Festival is set to see hundreds of thousands take to the roads. Significant travel disruptions are anticipated next week, including on the M5. The five-day event, commencing on June 26 in Somerset, is predicted to attract around 200,000 attendees.
Consequently, South West roads such as the M4, M5 and A39 are expected to be busier than usual on Wednesday, June 26, as festival-goers head to Worthy Farm. Traffic congestion is also forecasted to surge again on Sunday, June 30, and Monday, July 1, when the festival wraps up. Individuals have been cautioned to prepare ahead of the weekend.
Public car parking will be accessible at the festival upon arrival for a cash-only fee of GBP60. The car parks will open at 9pm on Tuesday, prior to the event’s start, when traffic volumes are lower. However, apart from toilets, no other facilities or entertainment will be provided in the car parks, and drivers are expected to remain in their vehicles until the festival gates open at 8am on Wednesday, June 26, reports Birmingham Live[3].
Glastonbury organisers have advised that the worst time to arrive by car is between 7am and 2pm on Wednesday. In recent years, during peak times, the queue to enter the car parks via the A39 took several hours, while those travelling on the A37 experienced less than an hour’s wait. Motorists are being cautioned that their satnavs might not provide accurate directions to the festival site and should instead look out for official signs.
Festival-goers are warned of potential nine-hour delays on Monday, July 1, from 8am to 5pm, which is predicted to be the worst time for travel as they leave the event. To dodge the traffic, it’s recommended to hit the road early on Monday morning, between 1am and 7am. Chris Wood, AA Patrol of the Year, underscored the importance of ensuring your vehicle is ready for the journey, stating, “whether you’re a music or a sports fan, it’s vital that your car is event-ready”.
He advised that carrying out simple checks on your vehicle and making sure you have up-to-date breakdown cover can “can save you a lot of hassle later,”. Wood also noted that while AA patrols will be stationed at various live events across the country, drivers should still perform “essential car checks” before setting off. The renowned Wimbledon tennis championships commence on Monday, July 1, and continue until Sunday, July 14, with an anticipated 500,000 fans set to attend.
Discussing the difficulties of finding one’s way at crowded venues like Glastonbury and Wimbledon, Chris Sheldrick, co-founder and CEO of what3words, said: “At busy events such as Glastonbury and Wimbledon, it can be tricky to describe meet-up points with friends, and direct assistance should you have vehicle troubles in the expansive car parks.” “What3words enables The AA to pinpoint the exact location of your breakdown and send their teams to help as quickly as possible.”
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References
- ^ Pictures of Glastonbury tent city and stages being built at Worthy Farm ahead of 2024 festival (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ French Connection makes stylish debut at Clarks Village (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Birmingham Live (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Somerset Live (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ click this link and select ‘Join Community’. (chat.whatsapp.com)
- ^ Somerset Live (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Privacy Notice. (www.reachplc.com)
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