DOWNLOAD TRAFFIC 'FORCED TO REVERSE UP TRACK AS LANDOWNER BLOCKS LANE'

Traffic trying to get to the Download festival car park is being forced to reverse up a narrow country lane after a landowner objected to cars using a field, it is being reported. People trying to get to the site in Castle Donington, in Leicestershire, have been posting on social media about their apparent troubles.

One person, called Laura, tweeted at 11.45am today: "South car park entrance track off the A453 being blocked half way down by the owner of the land, refusing to move as he says he has not been paid for the use of his track and field."

Another person, called Eva, said: "They made us reverse out the road and go into a different entrance. South car park blocked by the farmer who owns the land not letting people past!!"

READ MORE: How to get to Download Festival as organisers aim to avoid repeat of traffic chaos

So far there hasn't been the same chaos seen last year at the festival, which is expected to be attended but up to 100,000 people and kicks off with the live music today. The campsites opened on Wednesday.

The festival has prompted holidaymakers heading to East Midlands Airport to be warned to allow extra time to get to the airport, which is next to the festival site at Donington Park racetrack.

This year the line-up includes Queens of the Stone Age, Busted, Wheatus, Pantera and Fall Out Boy. Last year there were reports of people stuck in traffic for up to 13 hours and the local authorities asked National Highways to carry out a review of what went wrong.

The festival organisers were cleared of any breaches of their licence conditions but some extra steps were recommended for this year in an attempt to avoid a repeat of June 2023, when there were huge queues on the M1, A42, A453 and A50.

After the National Highways investigation concluded in November last year, the leader of North West Leicestershire District Council, Richard Blunt, said: “We’re very proud of the international reputation of Donington Park as a race circuit and venue, and welcome the annual pilgrimage of rock and metal fans to the Download Festival, but know events of this size impact our local communities.

"Following concerns raised this year we have worked with partner agencies including Leicestershire Police, Leicestershire County Council and National Highways to ensure the conditions of the licence were met, and to understand if there are ways to reduce disruption."

The licence conditions for the festival had not been altered since 2005. He said: “Given the age of the licence we have suggested the event organiser and licence holder look to change some of the conditions to prevent the scenes and complaints we received this year.”

LeicestershireLive has contacted the festival organisers for a comment on the closed lane.

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2024-06-14T12:17:26Z dg43tfdfdgfd