Driver advice for Manchester’s Parklife Weekender
Music lovers heading to the Parklife Weekender at Heaton Park next month are being advised to consider using public transport rather than driving to the event.
The popular annual music festival moved last year from Platt Fields in south Manchester to Heaton Park. This year’s event is taking place on Saturday and Sunday 7 and 8 June, finishing at 11pm each day.
The park is next to the M60 between junction 19 at Heaton Park and junction 18 at Simister Island with the concert site within the park more than a mile from the motorway.
With limited on-site car parking and no dedicated park-and-ride facilities or driver drop-off or pick-up points, the concert organisers are advising music lovers to use special shuttle buses or public transport instead of driving. More information on travel arrangements is available on the Parklife website.
Motorway users are being advised that sections of the M60, M62 and M66 around Simister Island may be busy from around 10pm on each of the two nights.
Highways Agency traffic officers at the North West Regional Control Centre will be closely monitoring motorway traffic using CCTV cameras and patrols will be out and about to help manage traffic and keep drivers on the move.
Electronic variable message signs will be used to advise motorway users of the event and any congestion.
Drivers are being reminded that anyone stopping on the hard shoulder or live lanes to drop off or pick up concert-goers risks an on-the-spot fine of £60 and three penalty points. Pedestrians walking anywhere along the motorway carriageway also risk being fined £50.
Phil Stockford, the Highways Agency’s Events Planning Manager, said:
We aren’t expecting significant congestion issues but with limited on-site parking and no park-and-ride facilities we are urging people to use public transport rather than drive to the park.
In the past we have had congestion caused by people stopping on the motorway to drop off or pick up concert-goers. We would like to remind drivers and concert-goers that, as well as being dangerous, this is an offence and anyone doing this risks an on-the-spot fine or prosecution by the police.
Anyone driving to Heaton Park should plan their journeys. The Highways Agency provides live traffic information via its website, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile platforms, such as the iPhone. Local Twitter services are also available at @HAtraffic_nwest and @HAtraffic_pen9 for Transpennine routes.
Providing they can do so safely, road users can also call the Highways Agency Information Line (0300 123 5000) to keep up to date with road conditions.
General enquiries
Members of the public should contact the Highways Agency Information Line on 0300 123 5000
Media enquiries
Journalists should contact the Highways Agency press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer