A NEW scheme to reduce last year’s traffic congestion nightmare at a major sout coast music festival has been revealed.

There will be double the amount of car parking spaces on an asphalt surface at this year’s Isle of Wight festival after hundreds of motorists found the main car park in Newport waterlogged.

As well as providing an asphalt surface, festival organisers Solo hope the new plans will keep traffic moving when people arrive at Seaclose Park on June 13 to 16.

The Isle of Wight Council has also provided alternative parking sites and stewards at known pinch-points to report problems.

Stuart Love, the council’s strategic director for the economy and environment, said: “We hope that there will be no repeat of last year’s terrible weather, but if the worst does happen we are ready to put our alternative traffic plans into place.

“The arrangements we have give us the flexibility to keep traffic moving.”

Last year queues of cars stretched to the ferry port at Fishbourne while many people were forced to spend the night in their vehicles.

This year there will be separate site entrances for Red Funnel and Wightlink traffic. Residents are asked to avoid designated festival traffic routes on the days before and after the event.

Bon Jovi, The Killers and Stone Roses are just some of the acts performing at the festival.

For more information visit www.iwight.com/iwfestival.