Organisers of a North East music festival have apologised after audiences were prevented from attending due to huge traffic jams with some cars getting stuck in mud.
Vehicles snaked back from the Northern Kin Festival in County Durham on Friday with tailbacks late into the evening.
It is understood a waterlogged site in the grounds of at Ushaw: Historic House, near Durham, caused the problems with sanitation facilities on site also adversely affected
People have taken to festival’s Facebook page to describe the issues they have faced.
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Sue Hill said: “My first time at Northern Kin. I won't be back. It’s shambolic, vehicles stuck everywhere and having to be towed.
“Toilets are minging and no hand washing facilities, no water on site 3. We have to walk ten mins to fetch water from by the arena, haven’t tried the showers as there are only five for the whole site, long queues to get wrist band, long queues to get into the arena at 4pm only to be told now opening at 6.
“Bands started at 6pm playing to no-one as everyone still queuing.
“God knows what it will be like trying to get off site. It took two-and-a-half hours to get on (the last half mile). I'm tempted to leave today but are so packed in I don't think I can get out safely.”
John Dunstan said he will be asking for a refund if things don’t improve.
He said: “I think the risk management you have had has proven ineffective. Also, I recognise this is not about individuals and thank everyone for their efforts.”
Issues he described include poor access, excessive wait to enter, main area not open on time, no working showers, inadequate water supply, ‘horrendous’ toilets and ‘inadequate’ cleaning.
He added: “I’d leave if I thought I could get out. Sorry folks, I know you are working hard and sympathise, but it’s not good.”
The line-up for Friday included Jethro Tull, The Sweet and The Magpies and organisers have advised this unable to attend to contact them.
In a statement Northern Kin Festival said: “We all know the last two days have had numerous challenges and as a small local team, we are deeply upset and sorry that some people missed out on day one of Northern Kin.
“Please be patient with us this weekend - the dedicated team, who have been determined not to be defeated by the problems, have worked through the night to sort out issues with water, toilets, access and more, to make today a smoother one for all involved.
“The issues have been caused by weather conditions completely out of our control and ever-changing, with a lead up over the last few weeks of one of the wettest March and Aprils on recent record.”
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The statement said that numerous planning meetings over the last two weeks addressed the ground conditions and predicted weather and the team concluded that cancelling should not be an option.
It was thought the softer ground was still holding up to site traffic and the festival could go ahead.
The statement said: “We could not have predicted the proverbial 'perfect storm' over the last few days that then rendered the fields nearly impossible to use in parts and the ground's inability here to hold up to traffic at this level, has been a shock, as this site has been used by us for festivals on a few occasions over the last couple of years.
“The herculean effort on the part of all the staff to get people pitched up and the huge extra amount of time and members of the staffing team, this has taken, when compared to normal years, has created a 'domino effect' where all other work has then backed up and slowed down and caused delays on other issues concerning water supplies, wristbanding, etc, which would normally be dealt with throughout the weekend, without delay.
“We had many staff and crew stuck in traffic on their way into work which inevitably caused us further hiccups too.
“Right now, we are understandably tired and trying to keep spirits up and it feels like lady luck has dealt us a very bad hand this week so we can only apologise for the problems this has caused.”
The line-up for today includes Reef, The Levellers, Bill Bailey, Tanita Tikaram and Hothouse Flowers.
Tomorrow there will be sets from Hawkwind, Terrorvision, Seth Lakeman , Beth Orton and Lindisfarne.
Organisers have said they are determined the show must go on.
They said: “One thing we can say with hand on heart, however, is that this is a one-off set of horrendous circumstances that, combined together, have been a challenge we've never before faced but the team has gone above and beyond to ensure the show goes on and we're going to make sure this weekend is a feast of superb live music.
“We're not the first festival to have faced challenges like this and we won't be the last, but we can say for certain that this will not beat us and we can only say a heartfelt thanks to you all here, who have still come along and haven't let it beat you either.”
People are being advised to not drive to the site anyone stuck should put their hazard warning lights on a await a tow.
Buses are running continuously today and tomorrow, between Burnhopeside and the festival site, 11am and will run in continuous loops from 11am.
The statement said: “We understand how frustrating this has been for you so far and we are tirelessly trying to rectify all issues, as quickly as possible.
“Please be kind to the team on the ground as they love Northern Kin and are doing everything in their power to make sure the weekend is a great one.
“We all want you to enjoy this weekend and the 'show must go on', so tomorrow and Sunday, please enjoy the huge range of superb live music and let's get that Northern Kin vibe going again.”
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A statement has also been issued by the Ushaw, the landowner, in response to the problems people have faced.
It said: “Whilst we are not the festival organisers and the stewards are not employed by Ushaw, we recognise and take seriously our responsibility as the landowner.
“The Durham County Council Safety Advisory Group has approved the event manual for the festival which includes traffic management plans and access routes also approved by Durham Constabulary.
“It clearly has not worked as smoothly as we'd all have hoped. We intend to fully investigate the causes of the traffic problems and work with the festival organisers to ensure such issues are not repeated.
“Once again, we're really sorry for any inconvenience which has been caused to you.”
Joanne Waller, Durham County Council's Head of Community Protection Services, said public safety is always the council's top priority.
She said: "The Safety Advisory Group is a partnership and provides advice to event organisers so that they can ensure events are planned and managed safely.
"Any issues raised around this particular event will be reported through to the relevant agency for further investigation with the festival organisers.”
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