Sting and Snow Patrol fans slam gridlock 'chaos'

Concert-goers have complained after being stuck in gridlock for "hours" as they attempted to exit a forest car park.

Thousands of fans descended on Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire, to watch Sting and Snow Patrol perform in separate Forest Live gigs on Tuesday and Wednesday night.

One man said it was "chaos" as he spent two and half hours attempting to leave after Sting's show on Wednesday.

A spokesperson for Forestry England, which runs the concerts, said their traffic marshals "worked hard to ensure safety and efficiency, and we remain committed to delivering a safe, enjoyable festival experience".

Simon Barnard, from Nailsworth, attended Sting's concert and said it took him two and a half hours to exit the car park.

"The traffic exit is chaos and there has been no improvement from the time we saw Madness a couple of years ago.

"It is such a shame as it spoils an otherwise great event and venue," he added.

Paul Wilshire, a retired lecturer who attended the Snow Patrol gig, said he waited an hour and a half to exit the car park - adding the delay "took away some of the joy" from the experience.

Forestry England spokesperson said they were proud to host two "unforgettable nights of live music at Westonbirt Arboretum".

"We acknowledge the queues some guests experienced when exiting the car parks due to the large volume of vehicles leaving at the same time and we thank everyone for their patience," they said.

Rock band Elbow is set to perform on Thursday, with McFly and The Script headlining over the weekend.

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