V Festival: Heavy traffic expected

The county council has been working with festival organisers, the police and Highways England to ensure people travel to the festival site safely and with minimum disruption.

It comes as public health chiefs are urging festival revellers to look after their bodies as the region’s huge V Festival draws near.

Those travelling on roads near the site are being urged to check traffic information and consider other routes – particularly throughout Friday and on Monday morning.

V Festival takes place this weekend, with the campsite opening on Friday.

Main routes in the south of the county such as the M6, M54, A449 and A5 are expected to be busy, especially on Friday.

Anyone travelling to the festival should only follow official V Festival traffic signs.

Highways England will be closing the M6 northbound exit slip at junction 12 to relieve the pressure on the A5 and Gailey Island.

Traffic travelling from the south along the M6 will not be able to exit at junction 12 of the M6, and should follow signs for the M54, as should traffic travelling from the west.

Festival-goers arriving from the north, so travelling southbound, should use the M6 Toll and the M54.

Staffordshire County Council’s highways team is lifting all works and traffic management off the A449 for its junction works with Gravelly Lane from midnight on August 17 until midnight on August 21.

Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet support member for highways and transport Helen Fisher said: “V Festival promises to be a fantastic event and brings thousands of people into Staffordshire.

"It is a well-established festival and most people living in the area will be well prepared and have planned their journeys accordingly.

"We’re just reminding people who usually use main roads around the event to do the same.

"Anyone travelling to the festival should only follow official routes and travel advice or alternatively use the bus service running from Stafford station. We hope they all have a safe and enjoyable time.”

V Festival is the county’s largest visitor event – known to attract up to 85,000 festival-goers every year, and brings in around £9million to the local economy.

For the latest traffic information, people should go to the Highways England website at: www.trafficengland.com or www.roadworks.org

Young people, in particular, are being urged to take care of their sexual health over the festival season. They have also been advised to make sure they are up to date with jabs including measles, mumps, rubella and the MenACWY for meningitis as they head out during to summer music shows.

Weston Park on the Shropshire-Staffordshire border will host the V Festival this weekend attracting thousands of music lovers from across Britain.

Dr Musarrat Afza, Public Health England West Midlands Health Protection consultant, said: “There are a number of practical things people can do to make sure they enjoy the festival season, but something people might not consider is being up to date with their MMR jabs.

“Festivals often attract family groups and because of this, last year we saw a number of measles outbreaks linked to outdoor events.

“Measles is extremely infectious and can be more severe in teenagers and adults, leading to hospitalisation.”

“It’s really important children and young people have had both of their MMR jabs.”

He said that the warning was also being given for teenagers who were going to higher education in September.

“We also want to remind school leavers heading off to college and university after the summer to protect themselves against potentially life threatening meningitis and septicaemia, by getting the MenACWY vaccination before they start their courses.

“Young people should also make sure they practice safe sex by using condoms.”

The advice on staying well includes the reminder that children and young people should make sure they have had two MMR jab. Festival goers should also take first aid items such as plasters, antiseptic wipes, antiseptic cream, insect repellent, antihistamine cream for bites and stings, and headache tablets.

In hot weather revellers should drink plenty of water, avoid too much alcohol, use sunscreen, wear sunglasses, appropriate clothing and a hat.