Chelmsford City Racecourse applies for more parking space in wake of Justin Timberlake concert chaos
Chelmsford City Racecourse, where concert-goers were stranded for hours trying to get home from a Justin Timberlake gig last week, says it needs more parking capacity.
Concert organisers Chelmsford City Live offered a “sincere apology” after many experienced long delays and traffic chaos after the American singer’s concert on Friday night (July 4).
Around 24,000 people attended the opening night of the three-day music festival, with the global star headlining alongside Jess Glynne, Dagny and CTRL.
He was followed on Saturday by Duran Duran, with Nile Rodgers & Chic, and on Sunday by Olly Murs with Blue, Lemar and a DJ set by Mark Wright. The total attendance across the three nights was 45,000.
But the opening night was marred by chaotic scenes as motorists tried to leave the racecourse on the outskirts of the city. Social media users said they were stuck in the car park for hours.
However, a month before the event, the racecourse’s owners may have realised there were issues with parking, telling Chelmsford City Council that an “intermediate solution” was required to support events at the venue.
A planning application has been submitted for 2.84 hectares (7 acres) of land – the equivalent of about four football pitches – north of the racecourse between the A131 and Blackley Quarry to be temporarily laid with a hardstanding surface over the next three years before a more permanent solution can be created, likely at Blackley Quarry itself.
A statement from Chelmsford City Racecourse said: “Under general permitted rights, we are able to use this land as an overflow car park, adjacent to our hardstanding purpose-built car park, for up to 28 days per year.
“This area is grassed and used for a number of events throughout the year, such as Ladies Day and Chelmsford City Live.
“We wanted to improve the surface of this area, to improve the visitor experience for events, particularly in the winter months, such as our annual firework display etc, so in June we submitted a planning permission for ‘additional hardstanding’ to provide a more weatherproof surface.”
A planning statement from agent Moulsham Hall Estates added: “A permanent increase in car parking capacity will be sought elsewhere within the racecourse estate and likely within Blackley Quarry.
“However, due to the restoration condition and planning process required to deliver this, an intermediate solution is required to enable live events to take place in the next three years.
“The proposed temporary car park will provide essential short-term capacity to support events at Chelmsford City Racecourse.
“It is a proportionate and appropriate solution that balances operational needs of planning and environmental considerations.”
Chelmsford City Live is a partnership between Chelmsford City Racecourse and Live Nation promoters Cuffe and Taylor.
Following the traffic difficulties after the opening-night concert, Chelmsford City Live said in a statement on Sunday: “We understand and sincerely apologise to those who experienced delays leaving Chelmsford City Live after Justin Timberlake’s performance.
“We know that long waits can be incredibly frustrating, and we are sorry for the inconvenience this caused.
“While the concert itself was a fantastic experience for 24,000 fans, initial entry to the venue was impacted by three independent vehicle incidents on roads surrounding the venue, including a car fire. These external [incidents] created challenges beyond our immediate control.”
Essex Police posted on the morning of the Duran Duran concert on Saturday: “We are aware of issues people faced leaving Chelmsford City Racecourse last night following the Justin Timberlake concert.
“The event organiser is responsible for the management of people entering and exiting the venue. We are liaising with them to resolve these issues for tonight’s event.
“Officers worked to try to keep people safe, including putting in place a rolling roadblock along the A131 to manage speeds along the road.”