Julians Bridge temporary trafffic lights affecting Family Fest and Meadows Campsite

From Tuesday 26th May 2026 for 6 weeks (until Friday 3rd July 2026), Dorset Council are trialing a new traffic management and safer pedestrian crossing at Julians Bridge with temporary traffic lights in place day and night, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

As part of the new traffic management, which is to provide safety for pedestrians and provide easier accessibility to Wimborne Minster from Corfe Mullen and surrounding areas, we expect traffic delays at peak times across the Family Fest festival weekend and also for Meadows Campsite for the Wimborne Minster Folk Festival weekend.

For those attending Family Fest or staying at Meadows Campsite, delays should be expected during peak daytime traffic particulary in morning and afternoon rush hours Monday to Friday, and also peak afternoon times Saturday and Sunday, due to congestion from the temporary traffic lights in place.

With large volumes of vehicles using Julians Road and Julians Bridge daily, we expect delays to have a ripple effect across surrounding roads including Wimborne Minster, A31 and other key routes and if you can, we recommend leaving more time to travel.

We also recommend the following:

• Allow extra travel time for travelling

• Follow all temporary signage and traffic management instructions

• Consider arriving by other means of transport including public bus services, bike or walking

Rob, founder of Family Fest, said: 'We’re working closely with Dorset Council during this trial period for Julians Bridge to ensure visitors can access the site safely and smoothly. While the temporary traffic lights are outside our control, we encourage everyone to plan ahead and travel early to avoid delays.'

He went on to say: 'Where possible, we will provide updates via our social media on delays and as always, we recommend coming by public bus, bike or walking if you can, which is also more sustainable.'

The Julian’s Bridge trial is part of a broader initiative by Dorset Council to improve safety and infrastructure, especially for larger events like Family Fest and Wimborne Minster Folk Festival and this trial is to provide key information for a more permanent signal approach in the future. While the long-term benefits could include safer crossings and improved traffic flow, short-term disruption is expected during the assessment phase.

Festival-goers are encouraged to stay informed and factor in additional travel time to ensure a stress-free start to their festival experience.