Time for a rethink after Stratford Christmas market traffic gridlock

The four-day event, which started on Thursday (7th December), saw town centre roads closed to make way for the market and its 300 plus stalls. This forced Stratford’s normal day-to-day traffic into queues of cars and coaches looking for parking spaces.

The impact for residents and businesses included missed medical appointments, cancelled business engagements, hour-long school runs across town and issues with public transport.

Furious motorists, including some visitors, described the Victorian Market traffic as appalling with many sat in lengthy queues as they tried to leave the town after visiting the town centre.

Just two years ago – in December 2021 which saw one of the busiest Victorian Market events – the Herald reported that organisers had promised to look at traffic congestion, parking problems and tailbacks after widespread gridlock.

Last week it was evident nothing had changed with some residents being told they simply had to ‘plan ahead’ for journeys.

Some of those hardest hit by the traffic work in the medical community.

Victoria Pringle, of Welcombe Care, said her staff were left stressed and upset by the impact the four-day event had on their work schedules. In some cases appointments had to be cancelled.

“The market was absolute carnage,” she said. “The stress that this has put on staff who have a hard enough job anyway is absolutely appalling. It’s unfair on the vulnerable and ill who are dependent for all their care needs. There are those who are full bed care and need support with continence, nutrition and hydration and people with time specific medication.

“It took a member of staff 45 minutes to get from Hunts Road to Welcombe Road. It’s absolutely atrocious and unacceptable. Anyone who says, ‘It’s a market – bah humbug – where’s your Christmas spirit?’ I would say ‘are you actually joking?’

“This has been absolutely horrific – mayhem, a nightmare. You wouldn’t have had a hope in hell if you needed an ambulance last weekend. They can’t do this again next year – it has to be moved.”

This free event is organised by Stratford District Council (SDC), Stratford Town Council and LSD Promotions. This year it was billed as being bigger than ever with traders dressed in authentic Victorian attire to create a nostalgic atmosphere from a bygone era.

Recognised as the Best Large Specialty Market at the Great British Market Awards, the Victorian Christmas Market attracts visitors from all over the country and is located on Waterside, Bridge Street, Henley Street, High Street and Meer Street.

While many enjoyed the market, others contacted the Herald to vent their anger about the gridlock and to say they would not be making a return visit.

One Stratford resident, who did not wish to be identified, wrote: “It has just taken me 40 minutes to drive from Elgin Gardens in Stratford to Trinity Court Surgery for my husband’s doctor’s appointment.

“We left home at 10.12am, so it was not in rush hour. A journey which normally would take a maximum of 10 minutes even during busy times.

“How on earth can SDC justify the disruption they are causing to businesses, shops, emergency services and people’s lives by persisting in closing the centre of town for four days at the busiest time of year? It is absolutely appalling.

“Why can’t the market stall holders use the existing marketplace on Rother Street or alternatively the area along Waterside which would avoid closing the town? The council would still get their income from LSD Promotions.”

Darren Turner said his work schedule to service coffee machines was completely thrown out the window.

“Thanks to the ridiculous road closures, the wonderful council have added hours to my working day. My customers who have shops in the town are fuming at the drop in their takings every time the council close the roads for markets and funfairs.

“It doesn’t boost the local economy in the right way.

“People who pay business rates all year lose business to the markets and the locals stay away because of the travel chaos. It’s time they had a serious rethink.”

Those who avoided the town centre by using Stratford’s Park & Ride also reported problems with long queues for busses and an irregular service to contend with.

Anne Bayliss said: “Great market and excellent visit to the RSC. However, the Park & Ride service was totally inadequate for the number of users. We wasted nearly two hours of the day waiting in very long queues for one of the two buses operating.

“At least four double-deckers were needed. Thankfully it wasn’t raining much as there was no shelter. Respect to the drivers though who got as many people as possible on each bus and had to cope with the traffic delays in town.”

It was a similar story for Sally Astley who was looking forward to getting into the Christmas spirit with a trip to Stratford.

“We travelled down from Birmingham and we were aware of the town centre closure so went to the Park & Ride,” she said. “What a fiasco of poor organisation. We arrived around 11.20am and there was a mega queue for the bus, snaking around the waiting area. Loads of people had waited over an hour. We decided to walk in as did many others. Really disgusting service and dreadful organisation. Older people with walking aids were left stranded.

“Stratford should sort itself out and not let people down like this. We had to get a taxi back to the Park & Ride area as no buses turned up.”

Warwickshire County Council, which runs the Park & Ride service, pledged a review.

A spokesperson said: “The Park & Ride service did benefit from an enhanced service this year, including extra evening journeys and a Sunday service provided in partnership with Stratford District Council.

“However, the demand for the service appears to be much greater this year than in previous years, resulting in a capacity issue with the bus service. We are currently looking at the data provided by the bus operator to review this and provide additional buses to alleviate the issue at future planned events.”

The impact of the gridlock went beyond visitors and business as families with school children were affected as well.

Mum, Gemma Goddon was one of the many. She lives on Clopton Road and has a son at Bridgetown Primary School, the opposite side of the river.

“During the winter months we drive a journey that normally takes about 10 minutes,” she said. ”Last week I was utterly exasperated by the fact that it took well over an hour each way, and in fact on Thursday, it was closer to 90 minutes each way.

“I simply cannot understand how this is acceptable for both residents and tourists to the town. It creates a terrible impression for visitors and is beyond frustrating for locals, particularly for those that may be driving to the town for the RSC at this time of the year.”

She added: “If the market was Christmas or Victorian themed in any meaningful way then I could bear it more, but it is merely an extension of the usual market with the addition of stalls selling overpriced food and a particularly naff and equally overpriced funfair.

“If this event must continue then, please can SDC reconsider where it goes so that the entire town is not gridlocked.”

Former Stratford mayor Kevin Taylor believes there is a solution to managing the event.

“Better planning is required,” he said. “If we intend to bring the volumes of footfall achieved over the four days we need to address traffic and parking.

“Temporary, additional Park & Ride facilities need to be created and company car parks on Timothy’s Bridge Road and the high school car park could be utilised, just to mention a few, on the Saturday and Sunday.

“Or we could potentially reduce the event to three days.”

It was all too much for one contributor, Louise Hart, who said: “I would never travel to Stratford again during the market. We are from a village near Leamington and normally visit Stratford regularly throughout the year for the theatre, parks, restaurants, walks and shopping. All of this can be enjoyed without the traffic chaos the market has brought.

“It was such a sad state of affairs for the hundreds and hundreds of OAPs on day trips to the market all queuing for the toilet at the leisure centre. I have never seen anything so poorly organised.”

There were positives though.

Thousands of visitors brought an economic boost for Stratford – many people reported cafes and restaurants were fully booked.

And the organisers were delighted to announce next year’s event will be another four days – 5th to 8th December – which prompted one person to remark on social media that “they were still stuck in traffic from this year”.

So how will next year’s event be different?

People have suggested keeping Bridge Street, Wood Street and Rother Street open to through traffic and setting up the market on Waterside, Bancroft Gardens and even the Recreation Ground with better Park & Ride services and parking available.

Caroline Nash, town clerk of Stratford Town Council, said: “The town council worked closely with both the district council and LSD Promotions on the organisation of this year’s Victorian Christmas Market.

“Months of detailed planning went into the organisation, including liaising with stakeholders, which included the emergency services and in consultation with the safety advisory group at the district council who ensured that a robust event management plan was in place.

“This year’s Victorian Market attracted over 300 market stalls, a funfair, live stage entertainment and street performers, which provided both locals and visitors with an opportunity to explore a wide variety of goods available at the market as well as nearby shops.

“Additionally, attendees could also take advantage of one of the numerous cafés, pubs, restaurants, offering a wide selection of food or the chance to savour some of the flavours of regional products that were available from many of the market stalls. Many favourable comments have already been received from visitors to this year’s event.

“The town council and organisers have every sympathy with those that did not get to medical appointments in time, as we had anticipated the advance road closure signs would alert road users to the planned closure well in advance.

“In addition, we understand that others may have faced inconvenience, and this will be taken into consideration when we have a comprehensive debrief of the event early next year.”

Stratford District Council response

IN response to concerns about the gridlock caused by traffic, a spokesperson for Stratford District Council told the Herald: “The Victorian Christmas Market is one of a number of markets that run each year in Stratford. The dates (second weekend in December) are agreed well in advance as part of the market contract overseen by the Stratford Markets Forum, which includes representatives from the district and town councils and the market operator.

“The award-winning Victorian Market is a free town centre event and is subject to a robust event management procedure, with everything in place to manage the traffic within the limits of the existing road network and is reviewed every year to see if anything can be improved.

“Preparations for the event, including signage for the road closures in place are promoted in advance which is hoped will advise local road users and help them plan ahead.

“The aim of the event is to bring footfall into town providing a festive boost to local businesses and initial feedback is generally positive with both traders and town centre businesses reporting significant increase in customers.”