Chaos erupted at the Trafford Centre on December 29, 2023, as shoppers found themselves trapped in car parks for over two hours due to severe congestion. Many customers reported overwhelming delays and crowded conditions, with some unable to navigate their vehicles out of the parking spaces.
Social media was flooded with complaints from frustrated motorists who described the situation as “gridlocked.” Images shared online depicted long lines of cars, with some drivers expressing their dismay at the inability to exit the car park. Reports indicated that delays extended all the way to the nearby M60 motorway, exacerbating the already stressful situation.
In response to the uproar, the Trafford Centre issued a statement acknowledging the traffic chaos. The shopping destination attributed the lengthy delays to a combination of high visitor numbers and a vehicle breakdown near Junction 9 of the M60. They noted that they had been informing customers that their car parks were full throughout the afternoon.
Inrix, a traffic monitoring service, corroborated these claims, reporting significant tailbacks on the M60. According to their data, the anti-clockwise carriageway experienced “very slow traffic” at Junction 10, with congestion stretching back to Junction 15 at Swinton.
One shopper, Katrina Cliffe, shared her ordeal with the Manchester Evening News, revealing that she was compelled to abandon her car and assist with traffic management outside the John Lewis store. Cliffe stated, “We have been trying to get out of the car park since 15:45, so it’s been over an hour. You just can’t get anywhere.” She highlighted the frustration of many drivers, noting that the roundabout outside was also gridlocked.
Social media users echoed Cliffe’s sentiments, with one user expressing their frustration by posting, “Trafford Centre is absolutely vile; it’s hell trying to get out of the car park.” Another remarked, “We have been trying to get off of the car park now for 2 hours.” Videos shared online depicted the chaotic scenes, with some users questioning whether they would face parking fines due to the situation.
In its statement, the Trafford Centre emphasized the challenges of managing traffic on such a busy day, stating, “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.” They expressed appreciation for the patience of visitors during these challenging circumstances.
The events at the Trafford Centre serve as a reminder of the complexities of managing high volumes of traffic during peak shopping periods. The combination of vehicle breakdowns and increased visitor numbers created a perfect storm, leading to significant delays and frustration for shoppers.
