T in the Park traffic gets scientific solution

BOSSES behind a traffic management plan for T in the Park claimed that state-of-the-art scientific analysis would ensure that the country roads round the festival’s planned new home would remain “clear and safe” during the event.
Last year's festival was the last at the Balado site. Picture: Lisa FergusonLast year's festival was the last at the Balado site. Picture: Lisa Ferguson
Last year's festival was the last at the Balado site. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

A huge expected increase in cars and buses using narrow rural roads and junctions on the busy A9 has been one of the contentious issues surrounding the festival’s move from Kinross-shire to the Strathallan Estate near Auchterarder, Perthshire.

Yorkshire-based traffic management experts SEP Ltd, who have previously worked at the Formula One Grand Prix Silverstone and the Royal Highland Show, dismissed fears traffic chaos.

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Speed reductions will be introduced on some roads to help cope with the expected 69,000 additional vehicles sucked in by the event.

2014 celebrated 20 years of T in the Park. Picture: Contributed2014 celebrated 20 years of T in the Park. Picture: Contributed
2014 celebrated 20 years of T in the Park. Picture: Contributed

The event, Scotland’s largest outdoor music festival, which attracts at 85,000 crowd, has had to be moved from its long-time former home at Balado, Kinross-shire, due to fears over the safety of an underground pipeline.

The revised plan has now been lodged with Perth and Kinross Council as organisers DF Concerts continue their bid to secure a licence for the festival, which this year will feature top names including The Prodigy, The Libertines, Sam Smith, Kasabian, Noel Gallagher and Jessie J.

A revised traffic management plan, drawn up by SEP Ltd, has been lodged with council chiefs.

SEP say that over the three to four week period that includes the festival build-up, break down and show days, there will be just under 69,000 vehicle movements.

Some 13,000 will be vehicles that revellers will leave on-site between the Thursday and Monday, therefore there will be no movement from them during this period.

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An SEP spokesman said: “There is a scientific calculation of network capacity and flow rates that can be applied to the road network being used by the event.

“A desktop modelling exercise has been performed and it was successful. We are confident of our plans and are extremely experienced in managing traffic plans in rural areas.

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“Road safety is of the utmost importance to us and consideration is being given to this.

“Speed reductions will be in place on certain key roads around the event, as well as other measures.”

Perth and Kinross Council has still not given the final go-ahead for the festival, with other concerns still surrounding the impact of the event on wildlife -- including ospreys which regularly breed nearby.

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