PBLZ129 said:
We park in the North car park on a match day; and it's a right ball ache trying to get out after a match. So much so, we have to leave a good 5-10 minutes before the end to stand a chance of getting home before the next chuffing lunar cycle.
Anyone else got the same problem?
I understand currently it's the omly way to do it; but the way they stop the traffic, so other blues can get to their cars, really does make it impossible to see the end of the match. If the club could come up with a way to keep traffic moving out of sport city - at the same time as allowing others to get to their cars - then i reckon there'd be more people left to see the end of the match. And God knows we need full support to the final whistle.
So I propose a PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE!
From the bottom of the walkway upto the stadium next to the tennis centre, across to the car parks.
Anyone know how hard, expensive and time consuming it would be to build? Or of any restrictions there'd be eg. planning wise?
I really would love to see the end of each game but if i want to get home and not be stuck for hours in Sport City I have to leave early :/
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In respect of the metro link then I am assured that it is definitley going to stop at a station to be built near to the City store.
Peter
Sent: 22 April 2009 11:16
To: Peter Fletcher
Subject: Egress from the stadium
Peter,
It does I really appreciate you taking the time to respond in a coherent way - I guess it takes me about 6/7 minutes to jog / walk to the car - I cannot risk being blocked at the briscoe lights. I will try and leave it slightly later - I guess I was asking the police to use common sense rather than extreme political correctness / nanny state council approach though I gather from the response they have reverted since my last unfruitful conversation with them to a more measured approach. However 15 minutes still feels a lifetime when you are stuck in a car after the game, maybe we were spoilt with Maine Road exit times, however if the crowd capacity increases in time this will be exacerbated though. Hopefully ADUG will buy the ground at some point.
I know its a major job to sort out any crossing of the railway lines and across gas turrets etc - an egress onto bradford road should be the end game out of the back of the car park but as you say it wont be cheap but would massively enhance the stadium infrastructure - may lead to the FA giving us some under 21 games maybe, small beer I know given the FAs unpopular commitment to Wembley at all costs?
Is the Metro envisaged to fit into the jigsaw somewhere around there too?
On Wed, 22/4/09, Peter Fletcher wrote:
From: Peter Fletcher
Subject: RE: Egress from the stadium
I have spoken to the police in relation to your e-mail and they have replied as detailed below
‘Before I commence my reply may I remind that the police are only acting upon an agreed plan that is the 'property' of Manchester City Council.
However, that said the traffic is stopped after the match for the main reason of public safety in that the geography of the area around the Stadium means that 40,000 plus spectators egressing from the stadium cannot be accommodated by the footpaths and footways around the area.
The police utilise this time to load up and remove the away coaches from car Park 7 to reduce the risk of public order situations developing and escalating.
The closures are not put on until it is essential to do so, which is usually around 3 of 4 minutes AFTER the final whistle as we wait until the crowds have left the Stadium. the closure at Briscoe Lane and Alan Turing Way can be some 10 minutes after the final whistle due to the distance the crowd has to walk to reach that location.
At present the average time that the road closures are in place is 15 minutes, as soon as the away coaches leave car Park 7 the closures are lifted.
Quite often the closure at Briscoe Lane is lifted before the others.
Night matches in general have shorter closure times due to the obvious reduction in traffic flow.
Tony doesn't make it clear where he actually parks at the Stadium but I would suggest that if he parks within the confines of the Stadium the wait he encounters is obviously increased due to the geographical nature of the area surrounding the Stadium.
Obviously it is always our intention to reduce the inconvenience of the public and reduce the waiting time at each and every match.’
The response is from an experienced traffic patrol officer who has regularly worked our games since our move here. Responsibility for traffic management has changed in recent years from police forces to local authorities which in my view has not always been helpful.
I have also spoken to our Project team within the Club and passed them a copy of your e-mail. This is the response that I have been sent.
We have looked several times at this. There are two options: 1) for a haul road off car park 2 that would take vehicles to Bradford Road. 2) there is an option to build a ramp off the far north car parks this would exit at the top end of Bradford Road. All are physically possible but expensive options.
This is now being looked at again as part of the wider Sportcity development plan but this biggest issue is that it goes across live and major gas works and that both British Gas and Transco would have to be fully on board. Irrespective of the Club’s wealth, we could not force consent, nor could the Council.
I am more optimistic now than ever that something could be done, we’ve even had a positive meeting with Transco. In reality however, it’s at least 2-3 years off.
It is fair to say that there are big plans to enhance and improve the supporter experience and it one of our owners main priorities. There are many changes and developments taking place, some of which I am aware of and some that I am not privy to but I can say that there is every intention of redeveloping the site and it is essential that a workable traffic management plan is in place.
Hope that helps.
Regards
Peter Fletcher
Egress from the stadium
On a separate matter I wanted to highlight a problem that you are already no doubt aware of namely egress from the stadium. The police under the guise of safety are stopping traffic at the lights at the junction of Alan Turing Way and Briscoe Lane. They are doing this to protect the pedestrians if they are more than two abreast when leaving the ground in case they spill onto the road. I am fully aware of what they are trying to achieve from my time as the JJB stadium FD working with Colin Chong and Alan Sumner.
The effect of stopping the traffic at the full time whistle means that I sit in my car for 45 minutes if I stay to the end of the game. This would be fine except in a midweek game my 13 yr old son is at school and it becomes too late a return home which is an hours drive away. Consequently I leave on 86 minutes to ensure I can get away. I am not the only one who does this and the effect is that it appears we are not supporting the team, we miss late goals and dont enjoy the experience as much.
I have also noticed that the police are far too over zealous (as they can be) in shutting down traffic too early completely unnecessarily and open it up too late.This I have discussed in the 45 minute unnecessary wait with Traffic policeman who as you would expect completely ignore me. Is this matter discussed at you liaison meeting with the Police?
What I cannot understand is why additional exit routes out of the Joe Mercer car park have not been planned or utilised (Wigan opened up a second exit in the 3rd year) indeed at the Briscoe lights there is a potential exit (bollarded) which would obviate the need to cross the Joe Mercer Way pedestrians in the first place (another risk eliminated) and take the traffic straight out the back end of carpark No1
As a longer term solution whilst I realise the railway lines and the Gas Towers make life difficult is it completely beyond the resources of Abu Dhabi Group to exit somehow onto viaduct street / bradford over the railway? Bridges are very expensive but it would improve many things and would be a major improvement ?
Is there anything planned?
Am I the only person thinking of this?
