I was a lot more enthusiastic earlier than I am now! This is so much more better attended than last year. An attempted quiet Sunday at home has been completely disrupted by people;
a) knocking on my door asking if they can park across our driveway even though the car was in it. (5 people). Polite but not really wanted.
b) another two cars parking straight across it without asking and being difficult when asked to move.
c) Gridlocked traffic, horns blazing . cars trying to do u turns in the tightest of spaces and lots of effing and blinding arguments out in the street as cars try to pass each other in what is really a narrow street,
d) Rows between attendees and neighbours as people try to park on the pavements.

It seemed from what I could tell that cars just kept driving round and round for some time looking for spaces. One guy who knocked said he had been driving around for an hour. I also agree with the comments about speeding cars today as people seemed to get angrier and more fed up.

I think such an event is a good idea for the reasons I gave earlier, but if this is to continue then the traffic generation and parking needs to be urgently addressed by the Horniman. I do know the Xmas concert also attracts a huge amounts of traffic but not on this scale. I am also aware of ads on the Underground promoting 'plenty of free parking in local streets'- not this Festival but the museum in general.

I don't know if the Council car park on Perry Vale was particularly promoted or even widely used but if not then its a shame and it should be next year. I didnt really notice public transport being promoted either. Perhaps this event needs to be ticketed from now on and numbers controlled, with as Michael suggests, some temporary suspension of the red routes or double yellow lines and chargeable parking spaces. This might reduce the number of cars attending however nothing is ever foolproof. There is also the question as to whether the Horniman are planning anything else on this scale in the future- it must be bringing in some cash for them hence would be attractive. Personally after today I would want to see some controls.

We can't have it all, and living so close to such a fabulous space has a price, but the local area cannot cope with these sorts of traffic numbers as evidenced today and if numbers are growing then its great but surely some action is needed for next year.