Much has been said, but I hope I might add a few words as a fair-paying punter:
The ticketting might be improved for having a look at it. I know there are (in theory) advance tickets, but assume such website funtionality is removed by common anti-spyware script blockers. Maybe a low tech solution to the website might improve advance ticket sales. Alternatively, a simple form that can be printed by post would work if it had to.
When there are very large queues outside, there is a need for more stewards there than inside. If that means nothing can move for an hour or so, I don't see a problem if it improves the welcoming face of the show. Given them money belts and they can at least sell programmes in advance. If the punters have something to fiddle with it's better than nothing.
The current system of paper tickets to walk 30 feet on entry slows the queues too much. Could there also be preferencial treatment for 'exact fares' to reduce the time fiddling with money and tickets?
We had a real emergency on the Monday, though thankfully not a serious one. The toilet door lock failed and the missus was left stuck in there whilst I called for assistance. Given that there was a risk of an expensive bill if a crow bar was applied to the aluminium doorframe, I wanted some official approval before breaking down the door. In addition to calming the missus, I had to keep a pair of autistic kids calm too. There is a real need for a clearer steward's uniform as it took a disconcerting amount of time to find a 'suitable someone' in a yellow jacket. Enginemen had them. Fairground folk had them. It seemed everyone had one. Something distinctive that can been seen from a few feet away would help reduce the confusion in a greater emergency than ours.
The problem with the exit gate lanes isn't signage. It's the application of said signage As we drove out on Monday, I saw a pile of yellow signs in the corner of the field. If they had been nailed to the posts the one-off visitors would have a fighting chance with interpreting the 3 lanes as having changed from 2-in and 1-out in the morning to 2-out and 1-in later in the day.
Finally, despite battling the Birmingham traffic on the M1 & M6, the Shrewsbury traffic, ticket queues, the loo issue and damp weather on Monday, we'll be back. It's a highlight of the year and we're looking forward to coming back in 2015 already.
Simon.
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