Christmas shoppers in Taunton have been warned about severe delays and congestion at the Sainsbury’s superstore car park during the festive period. Motorists have reported being stuck in long queues for hours, leading to fines for exceeding the four-hour time limit. The chaos is expected to persist through the busy Christmas season, with additional problems exacerbated by recent road improvement works at the nearby Creech Castle junction.
Local reports reveal that congestion and delays at the Hankridge retail park, which serves various businesses including Halfords, Currys, and Costa Coffee, have reached alarming levels. The council spokesman has acknowledged the ongoing traffic issues and attributed them to the significant increase in traffic volume, which the current road infrastructure is struggling to accommodate.
The situation has become particularly dire since the completion of the road improvement works, which were intended to alleviate traffic flow. However, the changes seem to have exacerbated the congestion, trapping vehicles in extensive queues and resulting in frustrated shoppers receiving fines for overstaying the parking limit.
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Shoppers are advised to expect delays and to consider alternative transportation during the festive season. Sainsbury’s has assured customers that measures, such as four-hour parking limits and marshalling over Christmas, are in place to alleviate the traffic challenges.