Car boot sale 'mayhem' leaves major road with massive tailbacks

The boss of a giant car boot sale has issued an apology following 'mayhem' that caused a main road to come to a standstill, promising changes will be made. Geraint Pierce, who runs Chirk Car Boot Sale, is considering reversing a recent decision to double the entry fee for buyers after the event's first day of the year on Sunday, April 21 led to uproar.

There was criticism as hundreds voiced their frustration over the "mayhem" that resulted in traffic queuing for up to two hours on the A483 Wrexham to Oswestry road, with tailbacks extending three miles to Ruabon.

Confusion continued on the former airfield turned car boot venue due to increased entry fees, and several cars were stuck in mud and needed to be rescued. There were also unverified reports of an ambulance having difficulty reaching an elderly woman who had collapsed at the sale.

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Chirk's car boot sale is considered one of the largest in north Wales, drawing hundreds of sellers from across the UK. However, some disgruntled buyers are now threatening to boycott future events unless the entry process is streamlined. For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox sign up to our newsletter

Criticisms ranged from calling the event an "absolute shambles" to comparisons with massive festivals like Woodstock or Glastonbury due to the size of the queues, reports North Wales Live.

Mr Pierce attributed the disarray to "freak" weather conditions that impacted all outdoor activities that day. He took to social media to extend his apologies and announced plans to scrap the new method of charging sellers at the entrance, opting instead to revert to collecting fees directly at their stalls.

Mr Pierce spoke to North Wales Live, hinting at a potential rollback of the recent hike in car parking fees from £1 to £2 at Chirk's car boot sale. Despite £2 being the going rate with Towyn charging £3 and Rhyl's early-birds facing £5, the sudden price surge in Chirk sparked frustration due to the lack of advance notice.

"I'll be re-evaluating the price for buyers this week," Mr Pierce declared. "And I will let everyone know by next weekend. The ground was OK in most places but there were some soft spots and that's what caused the problems. It was the same for all operators on the day, whether it was car boots, country fairs or horse sales."

He reflected on the eagerness of patrons following a six-month hiatus, exacerbated by April showers: "After waiting six months for the season to start, people were desperate to get out. The numbers are always bigger in April and May, at the start of the season, but people were even more desperate this year because of the delayed start after the unprecedented rain we've been having.

"We've not had any problems on the road in the last 12 months. But yesterday I didn't put signs out to attract more customers as I didn't want too many people to come. But they came anyway. F***-ups happen. I blame the government for seed-clouding the skies to create flooding in other countries it's f***-up Chirk Car Boot as well."

Mr Pierce postponed the start of his 2024 car boot season twice due to concerns over the condition of his field. He attributes this delay to the increased eagerness of people wanting to return to the car boot sales.

The situation worsened as vehicles got stuck and causing a backlog at the entrance. Further complications arose from initial difficulties in opening an additional gate intended to expedite entry.

One attendee recounted their two-hour journey from Ellesmere Port to Chirk, which typically takes half an hour, only to be met with "incredulous mayhem" at the site. Disheartened by the long wait to enter, some patrons reversed out of the queues and left.

Complaints also emerged about extensive waits for toilet facilities. A woman reported: "Traffic tailbacks for miles. Muddy fields, cars stuck everywhere, sellers setting up randomly all over the place. A lot of unhappy people."

A new system for entry was tested on Sunday, aiming to eliminate the need to collect pitch fees from sellers. Mr Pierce admitted: "Obviously this never worked as efficiently as we thought and massively slowed down the entry time. From next week we will go back to the old way of charging sellers at their pitch."

He added: "During the morning I walked 40-50 yards up and down the line of cars telling everyone about the new fees, so that wasn't the issue. It was the freak weather we've been having. The ground was drying up nicely but then we had unexpected rain and by then we had already announced the reopening. So we tried to make the best out of a bad situation. We apologise for all this. We know mistakes were made and we will learn from them."

The Chirk car boot sale, a staple for bargain hunters across the region for decades, introduced a £1 entry fee back in August 2011 to aid with site clean-up, sparking concerns about traffic on the A483. Mr Pierce explained that the recent increase in the entry fee, the first in 13 years, was partially to manage the crowds, saying: "We've not increased the price for 13 years, show me a product in a shop that hasn't risen in price in that time."

He further justified the hike by stating: "£1 was incredibly cheap for a family day-out which is what it is for many people. It's also a way for people to cope with the way this government is f***ing up their lives. This car boot is helping people with the cost-of-living crisis, it helps them get things they wouldn't otherwise be able to afford."

Despite the muddy conditions, some attendees defended the event, arguing that £2 remains a bargain for long-stay parking, and shared that they had a good time regardless. They praised the staff for their efforts in assisting people who got stuck.

A seasoned seller who travels nationwide praised the event co-ordinators of Chirk for adapting to public demand, despite acknowledging that such issues weren't exclusive to this location. He said: "We expected there to be problems on fields after so much rain," and further added, "But it must be said that the staff on the day really tried their best to get the car boot open and running again for us all. Whilst I understand people's frustration regarding stuck vehicles, muddy ground, position of stalls, £2 entry and only two very wobbly toilets, we must give them credit for giving it a go."