FOLLOWING the report in the Wiltshire Times last Friday giving emphatic reassurance that the traffic gridlock which happened in 2006 would definitely not be repeated for the Elton John concert, I can only express my anger and extreme disappointment at the traffic chaos which occurred yesterday trying to reach it.

My family and I departed from Trowbridge at just after 4pm and joined the A36 at Beckington roundabout, after passing through Standerwick we then came to a queue of standing traffic all the way to the Cley Hill roundabout and beyond. Every route off of the A36 was gridlocked. My son-in-law had paid for us to park in Car Park A (park and ride) and when we eventually reached this we were told by one of the stewards that it was full and to drive onto the next car park A which we did. Upon arrival at this entrance we were again waved on by a steward who said that the queues for the buses are too long and to find car parks D and K. This took us on a several mile journey through narrow lanes eventually leading us back into Longleat to have to hurriedly park and then walk a good 10 minutes to the concert entrance.

We eventually arrived at our seats at 7.15pm, having missed the start of Elton John and the entire first act. An unbelievable journey of over three hours from Trowbridge, just a few miles away! Up until approximately 8pm people were still arriving late and having to rush to the toilet facilities after their several hour journeys before getting to their seats.

I can only assume that lessons have not been learnt since the Red Bull event in 2006. In my opinion unfortunately Longleat is not a venue which can support large events due to the two major trunk roads which surround it, the A36 and A350. Traffic is just too heavy on both these roads in normal circumstances and they are not suitable to support the extra traffic an event like this brings. Something to perhaps bear in mind before a decision is reached to bring Glastonbury to Longleat.

Mrs S Williams, Clipsham Rise, Trowbridge