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Mum describes 'survival mode' after being trapped in Oxford car park for three hours amid severe traffic gridlock
Overview
A mother from Abingdon has described entering 'survival mode' after she, her partner, and their two young children were stranded for three hours in the Westgate car park in Oxford. The severe gridlock on Sunday was linked to a new traffic filter trial and the Oxford Half Marathon, leading to widespread delays, water distribution by shopping centre staff, and criticism from local motorists and businesses.
Key points
- Emily Strange and her family were trapped in the Westgate car park in Oxford for approximately three hours on Sunday.
- The family, including a 10-month-old baby and a six-year-old child, experienced severe gridlock while trying to leave at around 15:30 BST.
- Westgate staff handed out water to waiting drivers as cars were backed up across the multi-storey car park.
- Drivers and shoppers blamed the severe congestion on a newly introduced traffic filter trial combined with the Oxford Half Marathon.
- Westgate Oxford stated it was increasingly clear the traffic filters were impacting businesses and apologised for the significant delays.
- Oxfordshire County Council attributed the congestion primarily to the half marathon and road closures, noting that the traffic filter trial is still in its early stages.