Shoppers have been left waiting for hours to leave the Trafford Centre as queues leave people stranded in their parking spaces in traffic chaos. Some customers have reported delays lasting up to two and a half hours as they try to exit the shopping centre, with factors including seasonal crowds and today’s Manchester United match blamed for the mayhem.
Many customers have reported being stuck on the car park for hours on end as they try to head home. Some have said they’ve been waiting for over four hours, while others say around two hours or an hour and a half.
Among those who are stuck are Natalia Suska, 33,and her partner Piyush Sheopuri, 31, who had gone to pick up an order from Pandora. Natalia told the Manchester Evening News: “We’ve been here two hours. I’ve never experienced something like that, even the day before Christmas.
“It wasn’t that bad, we’ve been here on the 23 and it was busy but not that much.” She added: “I messaged by partner, I was picking up the order. I quickly picked up the order and said where are you, that was ten past four.”
Piyush said: “People have parked up on the footpath and the grass as well.”
Samantha Louise Smith told the M.E.N.: “It has just taken me 3.5 hours to get off the main car park, my sister in law is still sat there and is over 4 hours and hasn’t moved more than 10 feet!”
Customers have complained they have been stranded for hours
(Image: Submitted)
Eyewitness reports have said that the roads around the centre were ‘jam packed’ with ‘nothing moving’. The traffic also extended out into the junctions near to the centre.
Visitors have also begun taking to social media to vent their frustration at the delays. Julie Brannan wrote on Facebook: “Stuck on the car park at the Trafford centre – absolute joke !!! No traffic stewards or anything and they are just letting more on and NOBODY can get off just total gridlock – goodness knows how long – we’ve been sat here for an hour and a half and have moved about 10 feet.”
Lesley Courtney posted: “Been to Trafford Centre today, absolute chaos! Never seen it so busy, turned round and came home!”
Some people couldn’t even leave their parking space
(Image: Submitted)
Gemma Causton wrote: “Trafford Centre NEVER AGAIN!! Been sat in the carpark trying to get out for 1 hour, nothing moving anywhere.”
Bee Network has also said that the queues are leading to delays in services to the Trafford Centre. In a post on X, Bee Network wrote: “We are currently experiencing delays of around 60 minutes to this service due to congestion around the Trafford Centre. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.”
Stagecoach has warned that travellers can expect delays on route 23/25. In a post on X Stagecoach wrote: “Route 23/25. Due to seasonal shoppers the congestion in and around the Trafford Centre, we are averaging delays of up to 50 minutes. Sorry if this Is affecting your journey with us today.”
The Trafford Centre has said that the delays are due to a combination of factors including seasonal crowds and a game at Old Trafford. A spokesperson for the Trafford Centre told the M.E.N.: “With a busy day at the centre, and the Manchester United game taking place nearby this evening, the roads in and out of the centre are more congested than usual. We’re working with Greater Manchester Police and the highways authorities to try and clear the roads as quickly as possible, so things should be moving better around the centre soon. We appreciate our visitors’ patience whilst trying to get in and out of the car parks.”