Shoppers made to queue for hours amid 'utter chaos'

Shoppers had to wait hours in queues of traffic yesterday amid "utter chaos" by a retail park.

A "complete deadlock" stopped cars from budging at a the JunctionOne Retail Park in Bidston Moss, Wallasey yesterday, with some shoppers reporting spending up to "three hours" in traffic as they tried to get home. Witnesses reported seeing queues of traffic backed up to the slip road leading onto the M53 motorway, which runs past the retail park, with a nearby roundabout also "clogged."

Witnesses reported seeing one lane closed on the nearby A554. Some believed it was roadworks, however Merseyside Police confirmed this afternoon they assisted in the removal of a broken-down vehicle in the area of the Bidston Link Road yesterday, after initially receiving reports of roadworks causing queues at around 11.30am.

Speaking to the ECHO at the retail park this morning, Fred, who lives in Bidston, said: "We came here early this morning, expecting there to be more chaos. Friends we were with last night said they came here yesterday and there was utter chaos.

"They'd been waiting for three hours to get out of the car park. One of the lanes was closed.

The retail park was busy though back to normal today (Liverpool Echo)

"The roundabout was clogged and there was a queue up onto the motorway, which is dangerous."

He also mentioned he'd heard that people living nearby were leaving their vehicles in the car park and chose to walk instead.

Yesterday those stuck in traffic took to social media to voice their frustrations. Posting from within a queue, Helen Sheridan said: "If anyone is thinking of going to the Bidston Retail Park... Dont! It's completely gridlocked. Just been waiting half an hour to get out of our parking space."

One woman said she didn't even manage to shop after she was caught in the queues. Vanessa, from Wallasey, said: "Been sitting, trying to get out for two hours. Didn't even do shopping. Realised as soon as I turned in it was a mistake."

The ECHO attempted to contact JunctionOne Retail Park for comment on the traffic.

When the ECHO visited the retail park this morning the park was busy though traffic was back to normal.

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