Which roads could be congested for golf and racing?

News imageBBC Three yellow signs are on the left near a road on the right. Two of them include the words golf event, with one also saying friends & family pick up/drop off and the other having a number of symbols by an arrow sign and a P parking symbol. A roundabout and trees are in the background.BBC
The county council, which highlighted the golf tournament, Ladies Day and attractions such as Alton Towers, has listed a number of roads that could be busier

Drivers are being warned of potential congestion on key routes through Staffordshire because of two big sporting events happening about six miles apart.

The JCB Golf & Country Club in Rocester hosts LIV Golf between Thursday and Sunday, while it will be Ladies Day at nearby Uttoxeter Racecourse on Friday.

Given those attractions and with Alton Towers being less than a dozen miles away and many children off school, there might be more vehicles on the roads.

How might the golf event affect traffic?

To manage the traffic flow, people going by car to the Hollington Road event must exit the motorway from these junctions, LIV Golf said:

  • From the M6 north – exit on junction 17 onto A534
  • From the M6 south – exit on junction 15 onto A50/A500
  • From the M1 north – exit on junction 28 onto A38/A52
  • From the M1 south – exit on junction 24 onto A50/A515

Drivers can follow black and yellow event signs for Golf Event and signs for their pre-purchased car park spot.

Which routes could be affected by Ladies Day?

The racecourse on Wood Lane also has suggested routes, depending on which direction you are coming from. These include:

  • From the north west - M6 to junction 15, then follow signs for A50 Uttoxeter/Derby
  • From the north east - M1 to junction 24a, straight onto the A50 following signs for Uttoxeter/Derby
  • From the south and south west - from M5 (junction 4a) or M40 (junction 3a), join the M42 (junction 7). Exit M42 at junction 9 (Lichfield), follow signs for Lichfield and A38 (Burton/Derby) and exit A38 at A50 (Uttoxeter/Stoke)

Given events and other attractions, some busier roads could include the A50, A515, A518 and A522, the county council said.

It would "encourage people to plan ahead," cabinet support member for highways Patrick Allen said.

News imageTim Goode/Getty Images Two women with their backs to the camera are standing up and prominent in the image, as many other people are sitting down on white seats at a racecourse. Tim Goode/Getty Images
Celebrations would continue into the evening with a set from DJ Marvin Humes, Uttoxeter Racecourse said

The racecourse is next to Uttoxeter railway station.

"Intercity services run trains to Derby and Stoke-on-Trent which in turn runs regular connecting trains to Uttoxeter," the course said, adding that a direct service also operated from Crewe.

It invited passengers to visit the East Midlands Railway website or Trainline.

What is the LIV Golf event?

More than four years ago, money was thrown at a host of star names.

But LIV, named after the Roman numerals of its 54-hole concept, is reeling from the withdrawal of Saudi Arabian financial backing after the Kingdom ploughed in more than £3.75bn to bankroll its first three years.

News imageSarah Reed/Getty Images An image featuring a putting green in Adelaide, Australia, and including a man in a white cap, a white top and purple trousers holding a golf club. People are watching behind a white fence and in front of a building in the top half of the image and others are watching at the bottom of the photo.Sarah Reed/Getty Images
Australia's Cameron Smith was the star attraction at the LIV Adelaide event

The LIV Golf League features 57 players and 13 teams of 4 that compete in a 14-event season for the Individual Championship and Team Championship.

The four days of action in Staffordshire will begin "with a shotgun start", meaning 18 groups of players will be spread around the course at each hole, teeing off at the same time.

The player with the lowest score after 72 holes wins, but "everybody has something to play for as their individual performance contributes to their team's success", LIV said.

Allen said the council was looking forward to the event that would welcome thousands to the county, put Staffordshire "on the global stage" and bring "significant economic benefits to the region".

Tell me more about Ladies Day

Uttoxeter said it was "the ultimate occasion to enjoy long sunshine-filled afternoons, stylish outfits, and sparkling entertainment".

The horse racing would provide the day's main excitement, it added, while beyond the track, "the event really comes to life" with a best-dressed competition.

Prizes will be available in the Uttoxeter Ladies Day Style Awards, including a £500 prize for the best-dressed.

A Winter Ladies Day also takes place there in January.

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