Apologies Issued by Download Festival Organizer for Extensive Travel Delays

The Download Festival manager has apologized to those who have spent hours in traffic while trying to get into the rock music festival.

On Wednesday and Thursday, there were major delays reported in the area of Donington Park (Leicestershire) due to heavy traffic.

Congestion caused some passengers to miss their flights at the nearby East Midlands Airport.

John Probyn stated that the organizers worked with local authorities and transport agencies to minimize delays.

The festival has directed people coming from the south via the M1 to take junction 23 and then follow the signs.

The A42 southbound traffic is advised to take junction 14 and then follow the signs.

Arriving from the north via the M1 is best done at junction 24A. Then, follow the A50 until junction 1, Trent Lane, Station Road, and Broad Rushes.

National Highways reported on Thursday "severe" delays along the M1 and A453.

East Midlands Airport confirmed that some passengers did not make it to their flights on Wednesday due to the long queues.

A spokesperson confirmed that Steve Griffiths, the managing director of the company, and his staff drove airport minibuses in order to pick up passengers who were stranded along nearby A453.

The festival will be on for a few days, so it is important that visitors allow enough time to travel to and from airports.

Thousands of extra day tickets holders and campers are also attending the event.

For many, the festival's 20th anniversary hasn't been a great start.

Residents of the affected area have also reported experiencing similar effects.

Debbie Moody posted on Facebook: "Absolute nightmare for people who live here.

"It wasn't this bad last year. Either the signage is rubbish or the system this year is rubbish.

"This truly is the worse year I've ever known."

Jenna Durham said that she agreed, and that a car trip of seven minutes to pick up her children after school in the next village took almost two hours.

Liz Shepherd says that her daughter was late for her GCSE Maths exam because of the delays.

Source: bbc.com