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Isle of Wight Festival: Floods cause travel chaos | Isle of Wight Festival: Floods cause travel chaos |
(40 minutes later) | |
Music fans have been forced to sleep in their cars after traffic became gridlocked when heavy rain turned the Isle of Wight Festival into a mudbath. | |
Heavy rain led to access problems at Seaclose Park, Newport, which meant thousands of people were forced to sleep in their cars overnight. | |
Police escorted some motorists stuck in traffic to Newport Football Club where shelter and refreshments were provided. | Police escorted some motorists stuck in traffic to Newport Football Club where shelter and refreshments were provided. |
About 55,000 people are expected at the three-day event on the island. | |
The problems come as various parts of the UK are braced for heavy rain and flooding. The Met Office has issued yellow warnings for various parts of England and Scotland and a more severe amber warning for the North West of England. | The problems come as various parts of the UK are braced for heavy rain and flooding. The Met Office has issued yellow warnings for various parts of England and Scotland and a more severe amber warning for the North West of England. |
Met Office forecasters said the island would see very windy weather, with sunny spells and scattered blustery showers over the weekend. | |
Motorists queued for up to 10 hours to access the site and were left stranded in their vehicles overnight. | |
Linda Dawson, from Ashurst, said she had been stuck in her car with her partner and three daughters aged 12, 13 and 16 since 18:00 BST on Thursday. | Linda Dawson, from Ashurst, said she had been stuck in her car with her partner and three daughters aged 12, 13 and 16 since 18:00 BST on Thursday. |
She said: "The two things I'm really annoyed about is this weather has been going on for weeks, so why were they not prepared for it? Second we weren't told the full story in Portsmouth and could have turned back if we had known we would be in the car all night. | She said: "The two things I'm really annoyed about is this weather has been going on for weeks, so why were they not prepared for it? Second we weren't told the full story in Portsmouth and could have turned back if we had known we would be in the car all night. |
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"Why did they let us get on the ferry when they knew there was nowhere for us to go?" | "Why did they let us get on the ferry when they knew there was nowhere for us to go?" |
'Very sorry' | 'Very sorry' |
Festival-goers have taken to social networking sites to complain about their treatment and a lack of communication from festival organisers. Some said they had given up and gone home. | Festival-goers have taken to social networking sites to complain about their treatment and a lack of communication from festival organisers. Some said they had given up and gone home. |
Simon Perry, co-founder of site VentnorBlog said: "Many Ventnor Blog readers questioned why the relevant authorities hadn't planned for this, given the unseasonable recent heavy rain fall." | |
Problems began on Thursday morning when the main car park had become waterlogged from heavy rain overnight. | Problems began on Thursday morning when the main car park had become waterlogged from heavy rain overnight. |
Organisers were forced to open extra fields and bring in metal tracks so vehicles could be directed to overflow car parks. Many had to be towed because of the mud. | Organisers were forced to open extra fields and bring in metal tracks so vehicles could be directed to overflow car parks. Many had to be towed because of the mud. |
Festival organiser John Giddings said: "We did everything within our power but as soon as that 24 hour rain came down it became horrendous. | Festival organiser John Giddings said: "We did everything within our power but as soon as that 24 hour rain came down it became horrendous. |
"I'm really very sorry, I can only apologise, I know there's a couple of hundred still out there. | "I'm really very sorry, I can only apologise, I know there's a couple of hundred still out there. |
"It's going to be a great weekend, don't give up on us." | "It's going to be a great weekend, don't give up on us." |
Now organisers are urging anyone still waiting to get to the island to leave their cars and travel on the ferries as foot passengers. | |
Mr Giddings said plans were also being put in place for people leaving on Sunday. | Mr Giddings said plans were also being put in place for people leaving on Sunday. |
He said: "The police want an emergency plan from me as to how I am going to get people off on Sunday. | He said: "The police want an emergency plan from me as to how I am going to get people off on Sunday. |
"I'll have tractors and people ready to take people off." | "I'll have tractors and people ready to take people off." |
"It really is a nightmare for residents, it's a good thing if it's properly organised and contingency plans are put in place | |
An adult weekend camping ticket for the festival which runs from Friday until Sunday is £190 and headliners include Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Pearl Jam and Bruce Springsteen. | |
The date of the event was moved from its normal slot in early June to avoid clashing with the Diamond Jubilee and half-term holidays. | The date of the event was moved from its normal slot in early June to avoid clashing with the Diamond Jubilee and half-term holidays. |
Are you going to the festival? Have you been affected by long delays? Please send us your comments and pictures using the form below. | Are you going to the festival? Have you been affected by long delays? Please send us your comments and pictures using the form below. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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