Police are advising motorists to stay clear of the area around Cheshire Oaks because the road network is in total grid-lock as shoppers hit the highway in the hunt for a bargain.
Comments are coming in thick and fast on Twitter from frustrated customers caught up in traffic hell, with some claiming to have been stuck in the designer outlet village car park for three hours.
Cheshire Police tweeted this afternoon: “Considerable traffic build up and delays being experienced on roads around ‘Cheshire Oaks’ including M53 and A5117 - please avoid the area.”
The North West Motorway Police then tweeted: “We have closed both NB and SB exit slips at J10, M53 to assist with traffic congestion at Cheshire Oaks.”
Kenny Murray, centre manager at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet, said the problem was due to a knock-on effect caused by high volumes of traffic on the adjacent motorway network but made no reference to the impact of the sales.
He said: “We are aware that the roads around Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet are congested today due to a high level of traffic on the M56 westbound and the M53 southbound. We have a traffic management team in place managing our car parks on-site and are informing shoppers of travel news.”
Chris McKay tweeted: “Utterly ridiculous, 3 hours trying to get out a car park and we’ve moved 5 feet. I’m sorry Cheshire Oaks but your sales aren’t worth this.”
Michael Longworth commented: “Finally free from @McArthurGlenUK Cheshire Oaks after being stuck in a traffic jam for 2 and a half hours!”
Beth Sharples tweeted: “Taken like 2 hours to move 4 car lengths of Cheshire Oaks car park.”
Frustrated driver Carl Plant joined in with a similar comment. “Absolute chaos at Cheshire Oaks, absolutely no traffic management in place....30 minutes to pull out of our parking space!” he commented.
Chris Eccles was experiencing general rage at being stuck in the traffic but with a hint of humour: “What was I thinking coming to Cheshire Oaks to exchange clothes today!!! 3 and a half hours and still not there!!! I hate everyone!”
Damien Connolly tweeted: “I’m losing the will to live as we’ve been grid-locked for 2hrs so far on floor 1 of the multi-storey at Cheshire Oaks, absolute joke!”
‘RS1989’ commented on social media: “Coming to Cheshire Oaks today is potentially the worst decision I’ve ever made.”
Bus company Stagecoach apologised to customers that the severe delays at Cheshire Oaks were affecting X8/1/2 services.
McArthurGlenUK, who operate Cheshire Oaks, stirred up one potential shopper when it tweeted: “Have you picked up a sale gem from us? We’d love to hear about them all!” Michelle Roberts replied: “Trying to get to you for a bargain but the traffic is horrendous!!!”
