Tracey Kandora, Olivia Christie, Sam Lawrie
Updated: July 6, 2024 07:45, July 6, 2024 08:48
- Do you live in the area? Email iwan.stone@mailonline.co.uk
Furious locals living in Silverstone have complained that they are harassed by parking enforcement officers who block roads and ticket cars at the start of the Grand Prix weekend.
Residents of a Northamptonshire village are unable to park outside their homes after around half a dozen residential roads were closed for the four-day Formula One race.
Local residents have accused Grand Prix organizers of turning the event into a “music festival” with crowds and loud music.
Simon Page, 61, a local; He told MailOnline: “The cones in my street have been coming out since midnight and by 7am this morning [Friday] Traffic wardens were thumping up and down.
“The situation is even worse this year than last because the council has further restricted access in and out of the village.”
Do you live in the area? Email iwan.stone@mailonline.co.uk
The F1 modeller, who lives less than a mile from the circuit with his wife Jane, added: “At least six residential roads have been closed and we're all banned from parking outside our homes. It's ridiculous.”
“We are trapped in our own home!”
“Many houses here only have on-street parking so it's causing chaos. Alternative parking has been proposed in a field on the other side of the village but this is inconvenient for some people.”
Mr Page added: “Now there are bands playing all weekend. It's essentially a racing event but it feels more like Glastonbury.”
“They've turned it into a rave, with music blaring louder than the cars on race day.”
There has been live music in the past, but nothing as loud or large as last year, and this year is set to be even worse.
“You can't sleep because the nights last until the early hours and you can't drive during the day because the roads are closed or congested. It's total chaos.”
Local residents from the Silverstone Village community group have also complained that wardens have become aggressive, and branded the policy “illogical” and “senseless”.
Simon Darby said: “Parking wardens will be patrolling the village and have begun issuing fines to cars on Marswell Lane.”
He added: “We are told there are four parking wardens on duty in the village.”
“They also said they receive funding from the circuit court and typically operate in Northampton.”
“Move your car if possible, and remember they're just doing a job.”
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He complained: “I still don't understand why they are fining cars with resident cards when there isn't much traffic yet.”
“It's still a policy that's not logical or common sense. Starting at 7 a.m. seems a bit harsh.”
Helen Spelman posted on the community page: “Unfortunately today's enforcement officers don't have the same policies as the police traffic wardens of old.”
Karen Britton echoed Mr Page's comments, saying: “This is an old village so not all the houses have off-street parking.”
Tara Eacott posted: “The circuits may provide the funding but the rules are set by local authorities and F1 officials.”
She said Little London, a road leading in and out of the village, had “successfully petitioned to have the charges dropped”.
Another, Helen Spelman, added: “Unfortunately a parking restriction is a parking restriction and it applies to everyone.”
Mr Page, who has lived in the village near Towcester for 27 years, said not only were the racing events causing parking “nightmares”, but the noise from live bands was also a headache.
“Around 500,000 people come to watch the race. Locals have no problem with spectators. The problem is that the organisers are only interested in making money,” he said.
“The roads are jammed, parking tickets are being issued one after another and everyone in the community is outraged. It's an absurd thing and it's causing a lot of discomfort.”
“Last year it was awful living here with the noise, the parking and the crowds,” said village resident Paige Snooks.
She admitted that the only solution to winning the Silverstone Grand Prix was to stay away and avoid it.
She is due to leave for a weekend trip to Great Yarmouth early on Friday morning with her husband Chris, a car mechanic, and their one-year-old daughter Alia.
Mrs Snooks said: “So many residents have received parking fines, even from the village postman!”
“We are so scared of this event and the chaos it will cause that, like any other sensible person, we will disappear for the weekend.”
Her husband added: “All the locals are complaining. We've been living in the pack for five years and we're not fans of D1.”
Silverstone's chief defended the £429 ticket price for the grand prix, which attracts a crowd of the rich and famous, with Hollywood star Brad Pitt leading a line of A-list celebrities in the race.
Last year, a record 480,000 people visited the famous circuit and even more are expected this weekend.
The show is a highlight of the F1 calendar but in recent years has become a nightmare for local residents, who have reacted furiously to the disruption caused by spectators.
Parking tickets totalling £1,500 were issued last year and police have been re-deployed.
The strict and unpopular rules are part of a temporary traffic control order (TTRO) that was imposed in the area for three days.
The aim of the order was to prevent spectators from parking in nearby villages, but a misunderstanding led to local residents with exemption permits being fined.
“I've never had a problem like this before, I've never been asked to move my car,” said Mel Denision, who has lived in Silverstone for 60 years and has multiple sclerosis.
“I always leave my car there with my residents card and blue badge and I've never been asked to move my car before – never.”
Racetrack officials later said they would pay the residents' fines as a show of goodwill.
A major four-day police operation involving armed officers, detectives and search dogs began at the venue yesterday.
Northampton police said months of planning and preparation took place in the interest of “safety.”[ing] This ensures that everyone who visits the county has a crime-free, safe and enjoyable experience.
Uniformed police officers, along with plainclothes detectives and special constables, are on a massive mission patrolling the circuit, campgrounds and surrounding road network over the weekend.
Live facial recognition (LFR) will also be used on Saturday and Sunday.
Detective Superintendent Rich Tompkins, who is leading the operation, said: “With people already arriving and preparing for this year's British Grand Prix, we are ensuring everyone has a fun, safe and crime-free experience both at Silverstone and whilst visiting our county.”
“It's a major police operation involving uniformed officers, constables, special agents and volunteers, as well as detectives, armed officers and specialist search dogs and their handlers who will be patrolling the circuit, campsites and local areas throughout the event.”
A Silverstone spokesman said: “An inter-agency group working with emergency services, local authorities and our event partners are working together to deliver a safe Formula 1 British Grand Prix.”
“Parking restrictions are in place on the main arterial road to allow emergency access and there are only two other residential roads in Silverstone Village that have parking restrictions (Friday to Sunday).
“IAG and Silverstone Parish Council have worked together to ensure alternative parking is provided for residents who do not have access to off-street parking.
“Traffic management plans, including village road closures, are in place to protect the village and are designed to minimise the impact of the event whilst allowing residents access throughout the weekend.”
