New transport plan to ease traffic woes for T in the Park revellers

Access: Last year many people had problems getting to and from the site

The organisers of the T in the Park have announced new transport plans for this year’s event.

Following many complaints after the festival’s first year at Strathallan in Perthshire, DF Concerts will now separate road access for buses and cars.

There will be “well managed” pick-up and drop-off areas and a new bus depot with more than 40 stances.

The transport details were unveiled yesterday for the event, which attracts around 85,000 people on each day of the weekend it takes place.

It will begin on Friday July 7 if Perth and Kinross Council grant permission.

A report written by Moina McLaren, solicitor with Perth and Kinross Council, was included in DF Concerts application for a public entertainments licence.

She highlighted difficulties experienced by many T in the Park revellers last summer.

“Given the increase in the number of complaints after last year’s event, operational groups have been working more closely with the applicant in considering the proposed arrangements for this event,” the report states.

Ms McLaren revealed eight letters of objection have been submitted.

Concerns include road traffic management issues, control of pedestrians, damage to roads, distance from the pick-up and drop-off area to the event and the suitability of the site itself.

However, Ian Martin, traffic manager at T in the Park and a former road police inspector, described the changes to the transport set-up as “significant”.

“We’ve not tweaked last year’s, we started with a blank piece of paper and after months of testing and liaising with our partner agencies ... we have a solid plan in place,” he said.

“The separated routes for buses and cars will help keep traffic moving and the bus station will make travelling with Citylink and Big Green Coach the best ways to get to and from the festival.

“With an event of this scale, an element of patience will always be required when getting in and out of the site, but I can guarantee this will be of a normal level and managed by an experienced team.”

Inspector David Hynd, head of road policing with Police Scotland, added: “The organisers have taken on board the issues from last year and...produced a new on-site transport set-up which should bring benefits to not only those people attending the event but also to those in the local community who are directly affected by it.”

After months of testing and liaising with our partner agencies... we have a solid plan in place