Game fair supported despite traffic fears (From Oxford Mail)
Get involved: send your photos, videos, news & views by texting OXFORD NEWS to 80360 or email us
Game fair supported despite traffic fears
6:31pm Tuesday 27th January 2009 in News By Chris Kearney
David Hough of the CLA, Blenheim Palace chief executive John Hoy and Oxfordshire County Council cabinet member for transport Ian Hudspeth
The county’s transport boss has admitted there is no guarantee of avoiding a repeat of last July’s traffic chaos if the CLA Game Fair returns to Blenheim Palace.
A report into last summer’s country fair has backed plans to bring the event, which attracted more than 150,000 people, back to Woodstock.
The review conducted by the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) for West Oxfordshire suggested traffic problems caused by the fair were “unacceptable”.
But Ian Hudspeth, the county council’s cabinet member for transport, admitted he could not promise similar problems would not happen again.
He said: “We will do everything in our power to avert a repetition, but one can’t say categorically ‘no’.
“Based on the information of the review, we will be working with all the responsible authorities, town and parish councils and the event organisers, to make sure the problems that did occur are addressed.
“However, when you have an event with 20,000 vehicles attending, there’s always going to be some disruption to the local area and traffic.”
The main reason for supporting the return of the game fair was the economic benefits it brought to west Oxfordshire.
The report claimed £13.2m was generated in the local economy by the fair.
Bill Oddy, chairman of the SAG – which is made up of members from local councils and Thames Valley Police – said: “The Country Land and Business Association (CLA), Blenheim Palace and the responsible public authorities apologise for the disruption caused during the Game Fair.
“Although it presents a significant risk and challenge, the organisers and the stakeholders are prepared to meet those challenges. The economy has more of a profile now than it did last year.
“Anything we can do to support the local economy is going to be positive.”
Recommendations include a new traffic management system for big events.
Game Fair chairman David Hough said: “We love to come to Blenheim. It’s been an excellent host for the CLA Game Fair and we believe Oxfordshire is a fantastic location for the event.”
ckearney@oxfordmail.co.uk
Comments(8)
LadyPenelope
says...
7:45pm Tue 27 Jan 09
So long as that means that local workers get a special badge in their car and their own priority lane in the traffic, then I don't mind!
Zimmer
says...
9:47pm Tue 27 Jan 09
LadyPenelope wrote:I would suggest that if the benefits were for West Oxfordshire the misery was felt by the majority of people who live in Cherwell District where the main artery feeding the game fair Namely the A44 flows through. It is residents of the villages in that district who suffer the most namely Begbroke Yarnton Kidlington. There is a far more worrying aspect to this and that is the Emergency Services impared response to an emergency such as a resident suffering a heart attack or stroke (a special badge won't help them) that could prove fatal without immediate attention of an ambulance or Paramedic being able to reach them.
"Recommendations include a new traffic management system for big events" So long as that means that local workers get a special badge in their car and their own priority lane in the traffic, then I don't mind!
Mr Ian Hudspeth knows full well that the situation will be the same in three years time should the Game Fare beheld at Blenheim as it was during the last two occasions because the road situation will not have changed over the intervening years.
Rankin7
says...
1:43am Wed 28 Jan 09
LadyPenelope
says...
9:26am Wed 28 Jan 09
Or, anyone wanting to arrive after 7.30am has to park elsewhere and use a bus shuttle service, so 1 bus would replace 40 cars.
Sid Hunt
says...
11:19am Wed 28 Jan 09
opinionatedsoandso
says...
12:43pm Wed 28 Jan 09
Although disruption is caused, if there is a positive effect on the local economy then great. To stop all events at Blenheim removes one of the nicest venues for events in Oxfordshire, disruption on this scale 1 weekend in 208 is a small price to pay.
I do however think that the issues around emergency services should be looked at.
LadyPenelope
says...
1:38pm Wed 28 Jan 09
opinionatedsoandso wrote:If it was one WEEKEND i.e. saturday and sunday, then that wouldn't be so bad.
it's nice to see people are making constructive suggestions to the issue unlike the ridiculous comment from Rankin7. Although disruption is caused, if there is a positive effect on the local economy then great. To stop all events at Blenheim removes one of the nicest venues for events in Oxfordshire, disruption on this scale 1 weekend in 208 is a small price to pay. I do however think that the issues around emergency services should be looked at.
The chaotic day was people arriving on the Friday morning, which cause miles of tailbacks, people being 2 hours late for work.
Not ALL local companies benefit from this.
The A44 has 2 lanes for most the road to Blenheim Palace, so this should have one lane for CLA traffic, and the RH lane for local people.
They should also stagger the arrival times,so we don't get everyone trying to arrive at once.
opinionatedsoandso
says...
11:15am Fri 30 Jan 09
LadyPenelope wrote:Again, good suggestions - I agree with all of them. However I think I'll just make a few more points:
opinionatedsoandso wrote: it's nice to see people are making constructive suggestions to the issue unlike the ridiculous comment from Rankin7. Although disruption is caused, if there is a positive effect on the local economy then great. To stop all events at Blenheim removes one of the nicest venues for events in Oxfordshire, disruption on this scale 1 weekend in 208 is a small price to pay. I do however think that the issues around emergency services should be looked at.If it was one WEEKEND i.e. saturday and sunday, then that wouldn't be so bad. The chaotic day was people arriving on the Friday morning, which cause miles of tailbacks, people being 2 hours late for work. Not ALL local companies benefit from this. The A44 has 2 lanes for most the road to Blenheim Palace, so this should have one lane for CLA traffic, and the RH lane for local people. They should also stagger the arrival times,so we don't get everyone trying to arrive at once.
1.) I include Friday in the weekend (even though I work on Fridays, one bad one in 208 is still not a bad ratio)
2.) Generally speaking, we brits are all the same; cynical people who stand around saying how things should be done without being prepared to alter our own little routines.
3.) I had to pass through Hanborough and Bladon and travel on the A44 to get to work. Friday morning at 7:30 wasn't so bad. Granted, coming home wasn't ideal but hey, I can cope.
4.) We have 3 years from now to prepare for it, we have experienced it before so we know what to expect, plan to leave for work earlier or even a different route? If you mix these 2 together you wouldn't need to add 2 hours to your journey.
I don't even really care about the Game Fair, it's just everyone is so negative about anything that may knock their precious routine, it annoys me.
Comment now! Register or sign in below.
Log in with us
Fields marked with * are mandatory.
Or
Log in with