ORGANISERS of next summer’s CLA Game Fair at Blenheim Palace have unveiled a plan to avoid the traffic chaos that many roads the last time it was last held.

They said the £100,000 scheme would not prevent a repeat of the problems in July 2008 when roads around Oxford and Woodstock were gridlocked as tens of thousands of drivers headed to Blenheim Palace for the country pursuits event.

Some called for it to be banned from Blenheim for good and one councillor last night predicted the show would still have a massive traffic impact.

The new traffic plan will:

* Create two extra car parks off the A4095 at Oxford Airport and Long Hanborough

* Urge drivers to use alternative routes around Oxford, including avoiding the Wheatley M40 junction 8a

* Apply for council permission to widen the entrance to a car park off the A44 l Create an extra temporary lane on the A44 from the Pear Tree roundabout, and restrict speeds to 30mph

* Run shuttle buses from Oxford and Long Hanborough railway stations

* Make the 900 exhibitors arrive before 7.30am instead of 9am, to avoid the rush hour

* Provide real-time traffic information via electronic signs on the A34 and M40.

More than 140,000 visitors are expected to attend the fair, which takes place from July 22 to 24.

Organisers say the event will pump £13m into the county’s economy.

Julian Sayers, local committee chairman for the Country Land & Business Association, which organises the fair, promised substantial improvements.

He said: “We’re extremely aware that due to the size of the Game Fair there’s an effect in the local area.

“While much of this is positive for the region, the traffic is a huge concern to the residents surrounding Woodstock.

“Throughout the planning stages, we want to communicate with local residents and businesses.”

Woodstock town councillor Anthony Glees said last night: “I’m confident that everything that could be done is being done and the lessons of 2008 have been learned.

“Of course, there ought not to have been any lessons.

“Whether the solutions to the problem have been found, I doubt.

“With the best will in the world, there’s no real solution to 40,000 cars coming from all over the country to one place.”

He added: “If the chaos of 2008 is not avoided, I think this will be the last Game Fair to come to Blenheim.

“I and my fellow councillors would very much regret that.

“We want it to be a success.”

  • For more details of the event, see gamefair.co.uk