Shoppers at the Trafford Centre in Greater Manchester complained about being ‘stuck in cars’ for several hours, with many frustrated by the ‘crazy’ traffic in car parks
Chaos erupted at the Trafford Centre as frustrated shoppers claimed they’d been trapped for hours attempting to flee ‘gridlocked’ car parks. Bargain hunters flocked to the massive retail complex for post-Christmas sales today, but soon vented their frustrations on social media.
Many said they became stranded in their motors whilst trying to depart, with lengthy delays and tailbacks stretching to the nearby M60 junction, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Shopper Katrina Cliffe was compelled to ditch her vehicle and assist with traffic control on Monday evening, directing fellow drivers away from the sprawling car park near John Lewis. She described how customers became ‘stuck in their cars’ with ‘every lane gridlocked’.
“We arrived at around 12pm from Huddersfield, and it was already getting busy. It took a while to find a space but it was moving,” she said.
“We have been trying to get out of the car park since 3.45, so it’s been over an hour. You just can’t get anywhere. The car behind us had already been stuck for 50 minutes when we pulled out.”
“There’s cars coming into the car park still to try and find a space, but they are blocking every lane so nobody can even get out. I have walked up to car park eight to tell people not to come any further down.
“The roundabout outside is gridlocked too so nobody can move. It’s crazy how long it’s taken. It’s so bad. I hate coming and usually shop online but my daughter wanted to come after Christmas.”
Another shopper who popped into the Trafford Centre on Monday morning branded it ‘chaos’, saying: “I am free now, but was sat there for nearly two hours. It was chaos. I’d only nipped in for a browse.”
Exasperated drivers also vented their fury on X throughout Monday. One user posted: “Trafford centre is absolutely vile, it’s hell trying to get out the car park,” prompting another to reply: “We have been trying to get off of the car park now for 2 hours.”
A different user suggested: “I wish the Trafford centre had a live camera you could look at online to see how busy it is before you go,” which prompted a warning from another shopper: “Don’t go. It’s just took me an hour to get out of the car park.”
Sharing a string of videos, one furious motorist ranted: “Wouldn’t even bother trying to get in or out the trafford centre at this point, third hour sat here, appalling traffic management. Hope you’re not expecting me to pay a parking fine.”
Traffic monitoring service Inrix confirmed there was ‘very slow traffic’ on the M60 anti-clockwise at Junction 10, with tailbacks stretching to Junction 15 at Swinton ‘due to people heading towards the Trafford Centre’.
A Trafford Centre spokesperson explained: “With a busy day at the centre and nearby retail parks, combined with a vehicle breakdown at Junction 9, roads in and out of the centre are more congested than usual.
“We have been advertising throughout the afternoon that all car parks are full. Our dedicated traffic teams have been working with Greater Manchester Police and the highways authorities, deploying officers in key areas, to try and get things moving as quickly as possible. We appreciate our visitors’ patience whilst trying to get in and out of the car parks.”