Anger at huge queues on M54 and A41 for Cosford Air Show
Motorists and train passengers were left hot under the collar as huge queues built up ahead of the RAF Cosford Air Show.
Long delays were reported on both the M54 and A41 as 60,000 aviation fans headed to the annual event in the baking hot sun yesterday.
Highways England advised motorists to leave plenty of extra time to travel but people took to social media, with frustrated travellers complaining about queues of more than two hours and five miles – with many missing the show’s anticipated aviation displays.
Traffic had already started to build early in the morning, with RAF Cosford tweeting at 9.20am: “We are aware of the delays on the roads, our traffic management teams are working hard to reduce them and we look forward to welcoming you all soon.”
At 11.20am they added: “The traffic is moving and we are getting people in as quickly as possible. Our traffic management teams are working hard to get the traffic moving, please be patient and we hope you have a great time when you get here.”
See below for response from RAF Cosford
Only 40 minutes later the team said that the queues were 30 minutes away from being parked up at the event.
But their claims were disputed by many who had been stuck in the queues for hours and were still nowhere near the entrance gates.
At 11.40, organisers tweeted:
Many are now calling for refunds, having not entered the showground until hours after the event started and missing a number of the organised displays.
Those travelling to the Air Show by train also faced misery, with fewer carriages, cancelled trains and overcrowding.
One person said on Twitter: “Well done Arriva trains. Two carriages to Cosford Air Show. Packed on like sardines.
“A disaster waiting to happen. Do you have any planning? Useless idiots.”
Rob Bell added: “Is this what you call putting on more trains for Cosford Air Show? The 10.02am from Shifnal is just two carriages and the 10.22am is cancelled. What a joke.”
Many more took to Twitter to complain about the queues on the roads.
Sarah Hunt posted: "Yay! £29 per adult to sit in a hot car on the motorway and listen to the Cosford Air Show on the radio. Total shambles. 6-mile queue. Not moving.”
Kelly Beeston said: “Can you divert the planes to fly over the A41 approximately five miles from the show so we can see them as have paid good money to see the show and are stuck in traffic. We left the house at 9am.”
And Mal Hughes added: “Not much traffic management on M54 East, sat still for under one hour, in queue for over two. Didn’t see anyone official until I got to the roundabout where the traffic management and police were sat watching planes.
“Very disappointed, on my way home. Refund – doubt it.”
Tracey Farrington said: “Time to face facts Cosford you cannot cope with an event like this any longer. Total journey from Perton was two-and-a-half hours. We had missed an hour-and-a-half of the displays.”
Keith Marsh said: “Really, I think you need to start thinking about refunds. We have been in a queue on the A41 for three hours and missed the first part of the show. Appalling, appalling, appalling.”
Jessica Zhang said: “Full refund needed. All the people and families stuck on the road in their cars on a nice day should have a refund.
“We are supposed to be at the show, not to spend half of a Sunday in the car. You must have organised the show for many years. This is not professional or acceptable.”
Tim Truett said: “Sorry. Gave up after queuing since 9am and returning home. Three hours to get 0.5 miles seemed sufficient. It was certainly not pleasant.”
Sue Lowndes said: “Someone being a little optimistic here. Three hours now on the A41. Just about see planes through the haze in the distance.
“What a great start to our first visit. Not.”
Susan Watson added: “We have given up and heading for a picnic somewhere nice. Stuck on the M54 for nearly two hours. Couldn’t face the prospect of chaos getting home.”
RAF Cosford responds:
RAF Cosford Squadron Leader Chris Wilson said: “We have invested heavily in providing appropriate road signs in the local area.
"With a big event like this we expected delays – having spoken to Highways England, what they noticed was some people ignored the road signs and they were following their sat navs taking them the wrong way which caused delays for everyone.
“I would not say it is one of the worst years for delays.
"Anyone with queries about refunds for the show can contact us and we will look into their individual situation.”
