Coventry Costco Weekend Traffic Chaos Prompts Road Layout Changes
Fresh road markings are set to be introduced outside Coventry's Costco warehouse in a direct response to persistent weekend traffic chaos that has plagued local residents. The move follows an 80-signature petition from concerned citizens demanding urgent action to tackle queues that regularly spill onto the A45, causing significant disruption in the Canley and Tile Hill areas.
Resident Fury Over 'Ruined Family Time' and Safety Risks
The petition, which described the situation as "preventable chaos," highlighted severe weekend gridlock every Saturday and Sunday. Residents reported queues blocking the A45 for up to an hour at a time, creating dangerous conditions that delay emergency vehicles, harm air quality, impact local trade, and critically disrupt community life.
"Every weekend, Costco queues block the A45 in Canley and Tile Hill, endangering residents and ruining family time," the petition stated emphatically. "Weekends belong to our community, not their car park." The document called for pre-arranged entry slots, dedicated on-site queuing lanes, traffic wardens, and even proposed fines for Costco if compliance wasn't achieved within six months.
Council Response and Collaborative Measures
Coventry City Council's portfolio holder for city services, Councillor Patricia Hetherton, confirmed that highways officials had already been aware of the issues, which ward councillors had previously flagged. A council report acknowledged the significant impact on residents, emergency access, air quality, and local businesses.
The authority has since engaged directly with Costco's management team to discuss congestion and parking problems. Costco confirmed they had already taken some steps, including providing 70 off-site staff parking spaces during the busy Christmas period to free up customer spaces and reduce delays. The retailer has committed to continuing to deploy staff during exceptional peak times to help manage traffic on their site.
New Lane Markings and Legislative Limitations
The council's primary tangible action involves preparing designs to rationalise and improve lane markings on the approach to the Costco car park. These proposals, which have been shared with Costco, aim specifically to improve traffic flow and are scheduled for implementation in 2026.
"Once implemented, we will monitor the effectiveness of the new arrangement and continue to work with Costco to address the concerns raised by the local community," the council report stated. However, officials noted that some resident requests, such as enforced pre-booked entry slots or penalties for non-compliance, cannot be mandated under current highways legislation.
The council has pledged to continue collaborative efforts with Costco to manage traffic and keep queues off the A45 wherever possible, while also sharing the petition's additional suggestions with the retailer for their consideration.
