Westquay car-parking "chaos" as drivers wait for "more than an hour" to leave shopping centre

Frustrated motorists say the shopping centre's Podium multi-storey was in gridlock as shoppers attempted to pour out onto Harbour Parade.

One trapped driver, Robert Farley, said he was stuck for over an hour.

He said: "It's total chaos in here.

"No-one knows what's going on and people are getting very frustrated in here.

"We aren't moving and no-one is talking to us about what is going on."

The 66-year-old from Rownhams, added: "I've been stuck for an hour and the way it's going it could be another hour and a half before I get out.

"I only came in to take back a Christmas present, a jumper, from my sister. I feel like I'm getting some sort of penance."

Twitter user, Claire Thomson, said: "Horrendous #traffic in #Southampton again around the West Quay shopping centre car parks & retail park roads!"

Horrendous #traffic in #Southampton again around the West Quay shopping centre car parks & retail park roads!

— Claire Thomson (@Clasamthom) December 28, 2017

@SouthamptonCC took over an hour to get out of West Quay Car Park. Apparently because of traffic lights?

— Pete Marlow (@petesaint9) December 28, 2017

According to RAC travel, there is heavy traffic coming out of Westquay, although only delays of around five minutes.

A spokesperson for Westquay said the hold up in the shopping centre's car park is due to congestion in the city.

However, the spokesperson said that teams are in the car-park speaking to drivers and helping them to get out safely

There are high levels of congestion in the city resulting in delays exiting our car park; we are working hard to minimise disruption.

— Westquay (@Westquay) December 28, 2017

In an official statement, a Westquay spokesperson said: "We’re aware of congestion issues in the city, that are causing delays in the centre car parks.

"We are liaising with Romanse and our onsite team are working as hard as they can to allow people to leave the centre swiftly."