Forum Topic

Brentford FC - parking proposal

So somebody kindly alerted me to the fact that Strand on the Green school is proposing to offer Brentford FC 150 car parking spaces on match days/evenings. There was no consultation with immediate neighbours. Neither the Chiswick Riverside councillors nor SoGA were aware of the propsal.Can you imagine the nuisance we are going to have to put up with, in terms of noise and pollution? Any thoughts?

Alan McBride ● 2221d106 Comments

If so, it might just explain why they selected that weird timed ANPR option there as part of the “Low” traffic neighbourhood. All 150 cars would be able to drive in unimpeded, and out either end after the match.

Russell Pearson ● 2221d

With the ground share with rugby there will be more games, I suspect the same offer will apply to all matches. Brentford has also been exploring hosting other events.Despite the green PR puff, Hounslow has yet to implement any match day parking restrictions in either Grove Park or the residential roads around Gunnersbury station and Wellersley Road. Not aware of any plans either pre-COVID. The streets will be flooded with cars before people shell our for the school parking. The new stadium was approved without any real attempt to reduce fans arriving by car. Many business along the A4 will also offer matchday/ evening parking. Roll on more traffic and pollution.

Paul Green ● 2221d

You've got it all wrong!  In this new wonderful LA LA land of the bike and foot - there won't be anyone arriving by car - Oh no, all these ardent sporty types will be cycling or walking - why do you think Hounslow have made a brand new cycleway and reduced the width of the roads making cars an impossibility?  As for public transport - well there's bus lanes (I think) these are to allow a constant running flow of large red (germ free??) vehicles and there's the  efficient Brentford mainline not to mention really good safe access to/from Gunnersbury tube station! Why does anyone imagine that there is a need for any car parking?  What a foolish idea to scare the local residents!

Jennifer Selig ● 2221d

It was a condition of Planning Permission that the club implement Park & Ride facilities.There are 7(?) train and underground stations within reasonable walking distance of the ground, including one right by it, plus ample cycling provision.There have long been very restrictive - and ever increasing - residents-only parking restrictions around Griffin Park on matchdays so it's hard to believe that these won't also be applied at Lionel Road.And of course matches will take place on evenings and at weekends i.e. outside busy traffic hours.Meanwhile, as well as providing employment itself, the stadium will also attract lots of people to that part of Brentford/Chiswick on matchdays, with all the increased business for local shops, cafes and pubs etc which that will generate. (Asahi, owners of the Fullers Brewery in Chiswick have just announced that they will be supplying the beer and other drinks to the stadium, so you can hardly get much more local that that!)

Richard Cathcart ● 2221d

There were consultations earlier this year (pre-Covid) on extending CPZ times in areas around the new ground.Hounslow recently published plans for Brentford East CPZ - times will now be Monday-Friday, 9-11am & 5-7pm and Saturday, 2-4pm.  Residents there didn't want a Sunday CPZ and residents in Clayponds Gdns didn't want to be included in a CPZ.Still waiting for plans for the other areas.

Michael Robinson ● 2221d

I wonder when they will start letting fans attend matches there ?

Richard Greenhough ● 2221d

Schools that find themselves near sports venues make considerable amounts of money if they rent out their grounds for parking or corporate hospitality on match days. . Some schools in LBRUT just over the river  make a small fortune because of their proximity to Twickenham. The money goes back into supporting the education of the children attending the schools. It’s not ideal, I suppose,  but schools need money.

Stewart Jones ● 2221d

Richard, it may well have been a condition to have park and ride, but what are the details and who will use it. The plans also referenced a very large number of car park spaces to be available along the A4. A very large proportion of fans will arrive by car, especially away support and for rugby.As to the idea that say 6.45 on a wet Wednesday evening is outside of the normal 'busy' traffic hours, I think you must live in a different universe to me. Same for 2pm on a Saturday. Have you been to Chiswick roundabout or the A4 at these times in 'normal' (pre-COVID) times?Michael, as I suspect you know, there are no plans at all in train for GP or Wellesley Road area to have evening or weekend restrictions.Now we have your attention, can you answer the questions about the interesting letter you signed. I assume one of you guys must have all the answers to justify the claim made to a govnt minister that retail is booming on the High Road. Here they are again:* what data do you have to substantiate the fact that there is 'a local boom' on the High Road. Do you have stats on spending or interviews from a representative number of businesses? Did you also understand how many shoppers had come specifically because a road was now closed that had not come before when that road was open?* IS there separate data and surveys for TGT and DR?* With most now WFH, how do spending patterns compare with areas that have seen no local road closures?* How does the closure of Bread Ahead support the idea of a local boom* can you explain the linkage of the Chiswick flower market to any road closures or restrictions in Chiswick? Again, how many attendees only came because TGT was closed?* Which hard to let sites have now been occupied, and who spoke to the new occupants to understand what if any role a local road closure might have had in their decision. Can you provide clear quotes to support this?Looking forward to seeing the analysis

Paul Green ● 2221d

'Can you imagine the nuisance we are going to have to put up with, in terms of noise and pollution?'A maximum of 150 cars will take a relatively short journey through the area so I'm imagining minimal extra noise and pollution. The offset is some much need funds for a local school.My tiny violin is being taken out of its case.

Francis Rowe ● 2221d

Typical sympathetic response from you, Rowe.

Alan McBride ● 2221d

Francis, I lived by a football ground for many years. It wont be just 150 cars. Also you think the fans will not make much noise? HmmmI sympathise with the school. But there is a broader point here around the inconsistency. On the one hand we are told not to use cars and lots of measures are needed to keep them out. On the other hand schools and others across the area will be encouraging them in. Unless Hounslow implments match day parking restrictions, its going to be grim.

Paul Green ● 2221d

Michael, you seem to have disappeared again? Any update on the clear and concise data to support your claim that the High Road is booming? Anything...?

Paul Green ● 2221d

PG: "Hounslow has yet to implement any match day parking restrictions in either Grove Park or the residential roads around Gunnersbury station and Wellersley Road."RC: As Michael Robinson has pointed out, LBH has already consulted and published plans for CPZ's in the immediate surrounds (Brentford East). They can easily do so further afield in Chiswick West, as and when the need arises.On which point, since it is pretty obvious that capacity crowds at least, will not be permitted for months to come (season 2021/22?), LBH has plenty of time to attend to this - after other, more pressing traffic concerns in the Borough! Also football fans are creatures of habit - many have said they will continue to park in their usual GP spots and walk the 15 minutes to LR. And I cannot imagine any choosing to park in Grove Park - even if they knew where it was!  PG: "The streets will be flooded with cars before people shell our for the school parking."RC: Not if they're barred from parking near the stadium and/or traffic congestion generally is so bad as some are predicting.PG: "The new stadium was approved without any real attempt to reduce fans arriving by car."RC: Simply not true - quite the opposite, in fact(see earlier posts)PG: "Many business along the A4 will also offer matchday/ evening parking."RC: Indeed: car parking spaces for P&R which they won't themselves need (off-peak traffic times, remember) and which will relieve parking and traffic congestion in "Grove Park or the residential roads around Gunnersbury station and Wellersley Road" [sic]

Richard Cathcart ● 2221d

I used to travel to both football and rugby matches regularly by car and these sort of arrangements are commonplace across the country. Fans who drive to games tend not to be noisy or disruptive particularly ones in this case who will be paying £15 a time. Just think what great stuff could be bought for the kids with that times 150 once a week - most people would recognise that having to endure a little bit of extra traffic would be a small price to pay but then if you consider a benefit to others no actual benefit then maybe not.

Francis Rowe ● 2221d

Francis, I did not say its no benefit to others so please do not falsely attribute that. I recognise the need for schools to raise funds. My point was a somewhat wider one than one school car park. Multiply this by 30 plus businesses offering their car parks and then at present the opportunity for free parking on our streets.

Paul Green ● 2221d

Surely though LBH does not want ANY cars traveling anywhere - they are discouraging motorised vehicles throughout the eastern end of the borough.  They only want pedestrians and cyclists - end of story!  That's it in a nutshell = ask the surprisingly silent Michael the Czar of cycling!

Jennifer Selig ● 2221d

Interesting point.If any of the people currently minded to oppose LBH's traffic restriction measures in Chiswick are also requestng future traffic control measures in Chiswick re the new stadium, can they tell us how they propose to square that particular circle?

Richard Cathcart ● 2221d

Paul,  yet again, your knowledge of what is going on in the area is found to be lacking.  There was a consultation for the West Chiswick CPZ earlier this year and that covers Wellesley Rd.As the consultation on the Hounslow website says "Following concerns raised by residents regarding the impending relocation of Brentford Football Club to its new Lionel Road stadium and the potential parking difficulties this may cause in surrounding roads, the council is now consulting residents and businesses regarding the possibility of amending the operational times of the CPZ. "The results of the consultation aren't out yet but they have only recently published the results of the Brentford East CPZ consultation and extended the hours there.

Michael Robinson ● 2221d

Nimbyism seems to be in good hands in W4, but welcome to the real world folks. BFC won't be playing every day btw,including cup games it won't even be once a week over a season, which is 9 months.

Keith Iddon ● 2221d

It’s a bit rich, that those saying we must reduce car use at all cost, are now supporting selling parking indulgences for a football match they could watch online. People have such “terrible tendencies” to use cars, as one Brentford supporter recently said.

Russell Pearson ● 2221d

Watch it online..yeah... right.

Keith Iddon ● 2221d

> Watch it online..yeah... right.That’s what our local MP suggests you do, avoid public transport, if you can, or cycle to the match maybe. But don’t drive there.

Russell Pearson ● 2221d

The Brentford stadium fanboys didn't and don't give a stuff about anyone else in the area as long as their stadium got built.

Basil Finnis ● 2221d

The OP states that the school has not consulted with the local community. I’m not sure that the school is under any obligation to consult. Presumably, it was discussed by the governing body. Also , the local community would include the parents and careers of all the pupils at the school. That’s not to assume that they would all be in favour but the money raised would go straight to supporting their own children.

Stewart Jones ● 2221d

Hi Stewart - the school may not have been under any obligation to consult with local residents but it would have been courteous of them to do so.

Alan McBride ● 2221d

RP: "It’s a bit rich, that those saying we must reduce car use at all cost, are now supporting selling parking indulgences for a football match they could watch online."RC: Exactly who are these people who are both "all cost reducers" and "parking indulgence purchasers"? Can you name some?And while we're on the topic, do you object to the right of schools to raise money for their pupils by selling permits to park cars outside of school hours (i.e. no risk to pupils from accident or pollution etc)?Finally, whatever some (uninformed?) MP may have said, it is only possible to "watch online" while fans are excluded. Online viewing wll cease when fans are finally re-admitted.

Richard Cathcart ● 2221d

I was parodying our local MP...

Russell Pearson ● 2221d

Can you imagine 150 cars queueing along Thames Road possibly in both directions whilst waiting to be directed to their parking spaces. This proposal is outrageous. Surely planning laws would Apply? Change of use from a school playground?

Nicola Roberts ● 2221d

I hold no partIcular brief for or against Ruth Cadbury and no longer live in her constituency since July, but does she really want to reduce traffic "AT ALL COSTS"? (my EMPHASIS)

Richard Cathcart ● 2221d

NR: "Can you imagine 150 cars queueing along Thames Road possibly in both directions whilst waiting to be directed to their parking spaces"RC: What makes you think they'd all arrive at the same time? In my long experience that's really not how football crowds work.Rather if facing congestion and delay, they very quickly change their timings or route (or even switch to public transport if need be), so as to avoid missing the kick-off or the meet-up with their friends etc

Richard Cathcart ● 2221d

This did go through my mind when I first saw this thread - given that the parking area within the curtilage of the school will be used for purposes which are not incidental to the school or school activity.Of course it happens with all kinds of similar events all over the country, and in 99% of cases I suspect Councils turn a blind eye to it - bearing in mind that the car park can be used lawfully in association with the school or school activity, a Council would have to be able to demonstrate that the use of the car park for a none school event every couple of weeks could be so materially harmful/different from how the car park could lawfully be used that it would justify formal enforcement action.Putting that to one side personally in this day and age I'll all for making it as unattractive/awkward as possible to drive to such events - bar a very small minority there really shouldn't be (and isn't) any need for fans to drive to a stadium in the capital.  It's a mindset I don't understand - have to get through traffic before and after an event, finding a place to park that's legal, safe, within respectable walking distance and isn't extortionate, then you can't have a drink and so forth.  Years back my Dad and I went to watch Derby play at Pride Park and we drove, and it was an utter nightmare finding somewhere to park and then getting to the stadium both before and after the game, particularly as we away supporters and the police were being unnecessarily officious in trying to herd all the away fans onto coaches.

Adam Beamish ● 2221d

Response from BFC: "We are working with local schools and businesses to provide parking spaces for matches at our new stadium  - to assist our fans but also to help schools raise much-needed funds to support key projects that would otherwise not go ahead. We had plans to communicate with local residents about this - but this has been put on hold given the fact that we don’t know yet when fans are likely to be allowed back into sports stadia - it’s likely to be some months yet before even reduced numbers of fans are allowed back to matches."In other words...we don't give a sh*t about residents.

Alan McBride ● 2220d

That's not what I get from that statement.

Keith Iddon ● 2220d

Keith - I think you'd have a different take on it if you lived near the school.

Alan McBride ● 2220d

Alan, do you mean that some people living near the school would be even more enthusiastic about the proposal because it would serve to improve the quality of education available to local residents?The full story is now on the front page and the issue of Strand School parking is a bit of a sidebar because the main issue is the far larger number of parking spaces there will be at the business park. While there is every reason to support local kiddies getting more play equipment, a Chinese state owned business enterprise shouldn't really be profiting from a significant generation of extra traffic.It smells a bit like a condition of planning approval that was imposed before Hounslow Council found Jesus over restricting car journeys in Chiswick in particular. At the time it would have seen perfectly logical to require Brentford to make orderly provision for match day parking. They are only doing this because Hounslow Council is making them so don't blame the club.

Francis Rowe ● 2220d

Response from the school:Thank you for your email. Throughout this process we have taken guidance from EST, and we have been assured that the process followed was appropriate. The absence of crowds at sporting events due to Covid has delayed the start of matchday parking at Strand, and we don't anticipate it to start for some time. When the time comes for Brentford FC and London Irish to welcome fans back into the stadium, we will communicate with the local community to inform you of our plans.

Alan McBride ● 2220d

Alan, I haven't been living in bubble all my life and know what it's like to have to compromise some aspects of life in order to accommodate change,which is the one thing that you can guarantee will happen.As far as I know, the stadium is still in Brentford, and it is a business that is in the process of moving to a different part of the parish or borough if just outside its boundaries,and is trying to minimise disruption whilst also making provision for its likely customers.You could quite easily make a case that the current location of the stadium,quaint though it is amongst residential streets,is totally unsuitable for the modern world and that residents there have had to compromise their lives to suit for years.Many of the streets around Griffin Park are closed to traffic for hours on match days(in a normal season) so it may be a relief to some who live near the ground that it is being moved.

Keith Iddon ● 2220d

Keith, can you not see some irony and contradiction in your posting: 'many of the streets around Griffin Park are closed to traffic for hours on match days(in a normal season) so it may be a relief to some who live near the ground that it is being moved.'With the front page news about 1000 vehicles per match at the business park, we can see all the BS from Hounslow and restricting car use as just a cynical ploy to make money. Its strange that the anti-car brigade are so silent on this.Dont forget, as of now Hounslow has NO plans to introduce match day restrictions in west Chiswick and Grove Park CPZs. But they have in Brentford. SO it will be far more than the 1000 cars with allocated parking descending on the area.

Paul Green ● 2220d

Whatever you read into it, a local business has every right to move premises and be proactive in providing for its catchment.Campaign by all means and state your case, but I can't see how what has been seen as 'acceptable'to the showers that be for donkey's years can suddenly be unacceptable because the post code has changed.

Keith Iddon ● 2220d

What's the point of a courteous consultation if you don't need to consult at all ? It wastes everyone's time and will just annoy people. It might have been sensible to have asked parents and teachers their view, which the school might very well have done.

Stewart Jones ● 2220d

It seems rather perversely ungrateful of Strand on the Green School to create extra football traffic in Thames Road, at the same time as the council is introducing measures to reduce traffic along the same stretch of road.

Peter Evans ● 2220d

Peter, I (and most of my immediate neighbours) couldn't agree more.

Alan McBride ● 2220d

Schools are free to make a whole host of decisions without seeking advice or direction from its Local Authority.  Some schools hide behind an LA when they make a decision. Grove Park school is ultimately an autonomous body with its own governance. Its decisions do not have to comply with the LA’s direction of travel at all.

Stewart Jones ● 2220d

Why is it “ungrateful” of a school to implement a scheme that was required by the council as a condition of allowing the stadium?I think that Hounslow is finding that life moves fast.  They now find themselves caught between their old objective (of limiting the impact on local parking of the stadium) and their post covid requirement (of reducing the number of cars using the local streets).

Sarah U Benson ● 2220d

Sarah, many people were concerned about parking from day 1, and Hounslow could have made stipulations to the club to reduce car use. But instead it made it clear lots of parking could be provided at businesses along the A4 and indeed it seems local schools and the business park. Hounslow has also so far made no effort to introduce match day parking restrictions in Grove Park or west Chiswick. So they really don't care how many turn up by car.

Paul Green ● 2220d

I wonder how many people there are on this forum here who a) live in the SOTG area b) are opposed to the LTN and c) are also opposed to the school accomodating 150 cars on a match day.Can't speak about Hounslow, on the face of it it sounds like a 'rotten' borough, but in LBHF, the council is quite responsive to residents e.g. additional match day only restrictions near Fulham FC (over and above the normal everyday CPZ restrictions) , extended CPZ times after consulation near Westfield/QPR.Additional match day restrictions in SOTG CPZs would solve some potential problems in one fell swoop (apart from the 150 cars, which actually doesn't seem like a massive deal). Are there any other potential parking places in the SOTG area in addition to the school?

Andrew Jones ● 2220d

Andrew - are you serious? 150 doesn't seem like a big deal?

Alan McBride ● 2220d

Any spare stretch of road in SoTG, Grove Park and west Chiswick will currently be free parking for events at the stadium, there are no plans from Hounslow to extend the CPZ hours. Unlike the case at every other stadium in London. As long as this is the case noone is going to pay to park at the school or the business park

Paul Green ● 2220d

People bursting a blood vessel over the Strand School parking haven't thought it through.On matchday people are going to try and park in the area anyway. As has been pointed out - there will be no restrictions in the area. Without designated parking cars will be circling around looking for space, taking up residents' spaces and parking badly if they are slightly late for kick off causing obstructions. This pressure will be reduced by the availability of the school car park.Secondly, anyone buying a season permit for this car park is probably going to be doing so because they want to make a day out of it. Lunch or dinner at the Bell and Crown, Steampacket, One Over the Ait or the Express before or after the game. This means that the cars will arrive and leave on a staggered basis and that extra trade will be coming to local pubs, bars, cafes and shops.Thirdly - money for education!Take all these things together and the car park at the school may actually reduce matchday traffic in the area, will be a boost to local businesses and will benefit local children. However, it is hard to make the same arguments for the Chiswick Business Park car park - anyone parking there isn't likely to be lingering in the area and will be arriving and leaving at much the same time. Two sessions of gridlock in the Chiswick area on days games are taking place look very likely.

Andrew OSullivan ● 2220d

This is appalling. This proposal was never mentioned by Sally Stephens of BFC in her regular updates to local residents. A few years ago, SOGA invited representatives to an AGM - never once mentioned, and no wonder why.The school may need extra funding but this is not the way forward.

Pippa Meldrum ● 2220d

Alan, I was being serious (and asking if there was any other parking available in the SOTG area that would increase this figure of 150, obviously apart from the on-street parking in the CPZ).An extra 15 cars wouldn't bat an eyelid, and extra 1500 on the other hand would be a totally different ball game. Apologies for all the metaphors by the way.The 150 cars wouldn't all arrive at the same time, potentially would bring some extra income to local traders etc.I can see that after the match there would probably be some congestion if all the vehicles tried to leave at the same time.

Andrew Jones ● 2220d

I agree with Paul. And what is very telling is that LBH will make us jump through multiple hoops of consultation to extend our local CPZ when the inevitable match parking swamps us (in my case the FR CPZ). This in contrast to the way we are utterly ignored over the disgraceful and arbitrary changes arising from the so-called liveable streets initiative.

Brendan McCarthy ● 2220d

If it was run through Mr Robinson’s jam calculator, we would we be seeing the same level of congestion around matches, as we see now in the morning?

Russell Pearson ● 2220d

This is a totally disingenuous and underhand move on the part of Brentford Football Club together with Hounslow Council and Strand School.  Bfc stated at the outset in its presentations that it would be looking to negotiate parking on business premises along and around the A4.  EST has appeared on the scene and sold the idea that it will negotiate further local parking facilities during matches and events.  As far as Strand School is concerned were the Governors informed and party to the negotiations and likewise were the parent/teacher groups consulted?  The EST scheme went live at the end of July which means that tickets have been on sale and sold during August and September. The residents in Thames and surrounding Roads have neither been told nor consulted.  In response to queries Strand School says "Throughout this process we have taken guidance from EST and we have been assured that the process followed was appropriate. The absence of crowds at sporting events due to Covid19 has delayed the start of match day parking at Strand and we don't anticipate it to start for some time. When the time comes for Brentford FC and London Irish to welcome fans back into the stadium we will communicate with the local community to inform you of our plans." How very condescending - informing the local residents of a done deal.  SoGA will vigorously oppose this proposal and will give support to all and any group also opposing the use of 'our' local school grounds.Match day SOTG CPZ parking: I have been advised by Lbh that amended parking hours will be implemented prior to the stadium opening next year and appropriate preparations are in hand.

Strand on the green association ● 2220d

"As has been pointed out - there will be no restrictions in the area. "Andrew, I think the problem is the people pointing this out don't actually know what is happening...There HAVE been consultations to extend existing CPZs in the area.  Some plans have already been announced, we are still waiting for others. There is still time to do more.  I expect this isn't the highest priority for the council given there won't be games with fans at the new stadium for some time.  The stadium has a safety certificate to have games behind closed door but it doesn't have safety certificates for games with supporters.  The original plan was to have a series of friendly games with increasing numbers of fans at each, but that has obviously gone by the wayside.

Michael Robinson ● 2220d

Thank you SoGA! As you say, it is the underhandedness that is the hardest part to accept.

Alan McBride ● 2220d

People will park anywhere they can and they won't care about the school parking if they have to pay. And you know that. Sounds like you're trying to blame the residents for being lied to by BFC and the Council.

Basil Finnis ● 2220d

Peak weekend traffic along SOTG is about 330 vehicles per hour between 1pm and 2pm on Saturday.  This is the total in both directions.  Peak weekday traffic is similar, just earlier in the morning.Over 80% of these vehicles are driving straight through.  With the proposed restrictions on through traffic, that would reduce the number of vehicles to about 60-70 per hour.An additional 150 cars driving in for parking would take it up to 210-220 vehicles.So less than the traffic pre-lockdown, but about 3 times more than the traffic than would be expected with the restrictions.

Michael Robinson ● 2220d

What underhandedness? At this stage it isn't likely that the parking will be needed until next April at the earliest. There may be a planning process to go through so you would have been told way before it became operational.As I've explained carefully, this arrangement probably benefits everybody including residents. Your problem appears to be that the school hasn't treated you with the respect you feel you deserve rather than anything else.

Andrew OSullivan ● 2220d

Why is it that other posters are required to use their real names, while someone purporting to speak for SOGA is able to hide behind their anonymity ?

Richard Greenhough ● 2220d

Andrew - we'll have to agree to disagree.

Alan McBride ● 2220d

School: "Throughout this process we have taken guidance from EST and we have been assured that the process followed was appropriate."What?! Appropriate for who? The school should be ashamed of itself.

Pippa Meldrum ● 2220d

Alan,I think many of the posters here rather overestimate the number of supporters who drive to matches,in reality it’s a small minority at the moment,and will be even less with the new ground.With matchday parking restrictions around sog,and the proposed cpz extensions in Kew,there will be nowhere to park.In addition the ground has probably got the best public transport links in the country.With regard to the school,I  think that at £20 a pop they are going to be rather disappointed.

Peter Cozens ● 2220d

Peter, the deal for London Irish season ticket holders is better.The club is subsidising the cost of car parking for season ticket holders so it will cost them £80 for the season rather than £200.With 14 home fixtures (domestic and European) that works out at under £6 per game for parking.

Michael Robinson ● 2220d

Good point Michael,will be interesting to see how many the Irish will attract. I do think the local pubs will benefit enormously,hopefully in the not too distant future.

Peter Cozens ● 2220d

It seems that by attracting extra traffic to their site on match days, Strand on the Green School is being un-neighbourly by defeating the traffic calming arrangements which, during the rest of the week, they benefit from. And as I understand it, football traffic wouldn't be allowed to 'cruise up and down' Thames Road looking for street parking spaces, as that would infringe the 'Except for Access' regulation, but making straight for the School would be allowed, as that would count as 'Access'.

Peter Evans ● 2220d

Why would pay £20 to squeeze into Stand on Green or £15 to park in the Business Park when you can park for free on the street?First try Thames Road then roads around and then park by Chiswick Station & take 1 stop to Kew Bridge. Maybe enjoying a pint at the Station House before the game.Other football grounds have parking restrictions on "match days" but the consolation was only limited to SOG and only gave extending the CPZ to ALL weekends as an option.

Richard Potts ● 2220d

The lack of match day parking underlines the utter contempt with which Hounslow view Chiswick. It is basic traffic and street management across the country. Most fans that want to drink will not arrive by car. Also, for those in the vicinity of the school, be aware that most fans will leave straight after the match, especially evenings. So from 10pm onwards expect a constant stream of traffic out of the school.

Paul Green ● 2220d

Peter, I think you are right about the overestimation of the numbers driving to matches. Being a BFC season ticket holder who travelled to matches by train, the roads surrounding Griffin Pk had clearly signed temporary matchday no parking for every game. These were for clearly stated hours. The club had for many years a parking arrangement with the Health Centre opposite the station and the school in Clifden Rd which I believe was Brentford School for girls. Stewards were at the entrances checking that all wanting to enter were 'on the list' ie prebooked. In the many years I walked passed the HC and down Clifden Rd I never saw a queue waiting to get in. Roads in the immediate vicinity were closed to non-residents. This incudes Braemar Rd where a certain S Curran lives. I sincerely hope that similar restrictions are put in place for the new stadium.

Bob Guyett ● 2220d

Bob, that would be great but at present no such arrangements exist for any roads to the east of the south circular, none. Also, the key point of the move is to grow the attendance. Brentford were one win away from the premier league, a full stadium pretty much every week with several thousand away fans. It could still easily happen.Curran protects his own street but not those in Chiswick. Says it all

Paul Green ● 2220d

Fair question but equally is there any suggestion that what's being posted under the name of SOGA isn't representative of their views?

Andrew Jones ● 2219d

Thanks Alan, I hope I'm proved right and your concerns prove to be unfounded and things pan out as I think they will i.e. that the parking at SOTG school during match days won't have a significant impact on the SOTG community.It's good to know that there will be match day restrictions in the SOTG CPZ once spectators start coming to the new ground (which is what SOGA have said they've been told).

Andrew Jones ● 2219d

Roads that are closed to non residents, how do family, carers etc manage to visit.

Janice Evans ● 2219d

Slightly off subject - I know - but this victim centred approach that only applies to Chiswick is pretty galling. I can tell you the council holds most of the borough in complete contempt when it comes to actually consulting anyone be it LTNs, parks, planning enforcement or any local works. We are all ignored equally.

Vanessa Smith ● 2219d

SOGA is a legal person.  Having its views published under its name is the same as you or I publishing our views under our names.  If someone posts views that are not that of SOGA under the SOGA name that is the same as you or I publishing our views under someone else’s name.

Christopher Shea ● 2219d

Yes, Richard, nothing says local quite like a Japanese beverage conglomerate. You know the one, Fullers, which is expected to lay off at least one in ten workers in the near future.Wouldn't it have made more sense to get the fans to the fan site? Make them park let's say...under the stadium? But hopefully you won't have too many drunken revellers walking past your door after game day. Or too many of them doing rat runs because of the congestion it will cause in residential neighborhoods. Good thinking.

David Lesniak ● 2219d

Ditto, Vanessa.

Keith Iddon ● 2219d

And another half answer to the question from Michael.The evidence the High Road is booming. Because I wonder, will a paid lobbyist or a trader have the answer?

David Lesniak ● 2219d

Personally, I would prefer contributors to post under individual names, however this forum's "Community Forum Code of Conduct" says:"You may post on behalf of an organisation in their name only if you are duly authorised by that organisation to do so."http://www.neighbournet.com/server/app/forum/conduct.htm#take

Phil Kay ● 2219d

Is this what they mean by equal opportunities?

Vanessa Smith ● 2219d

Indeed it is a bit rich to see parking promoted for one business only a handful of days but for the traders who are here 365 days a year we simply don't know and we're being told parking isn't needed. If only traders knew the reality of the situation and what's needed to succeed. Perhaps a dermatologist knows better. After all, anyone can apply microdermabrasion and Botox. What's the big deal?

David Lesniak ● 2219d

David, I won't say that parking isn't needed by traders, the sometimes desolate nature of the streets in Chiswick is evidence that removing parking has an adverse effect on traders, but do you think that traders need (or their customers would use) parking that is at least a 0.5 mile walk from their premises?

Andrew Jones ● 2219d

"do you object to the right of schools to raise money for their pupils by selling permits"So, Richard, it's okay to drive and pollute so long as you're paying a school to park in their lot? All this to-ing and fro-ing with this person is okay to drive but this person isn't. If you live here you can't use that road but if you're visiting go on ahead the parking is just up on the left, etc. And yet still no word on if businesses can access the roads for deliveries but gosh darn it, let's get those fans in why don't we, drive that old diesel right up.The other bit you miss, Richard, is the missed revenue for the council. Hopefully you won't need any of the social services sure to be cut due to lack of funds. Maybe you can go back to school and benefit that way?

David Lesniak ● 2219d

I think of Westfield and Richmond with regard to nearby parking. In both cases there is a density of centralized available parking. It brings people to that area, that micro economy if you will. And in both cases customers would walk easily .5 mile in the vicinity to go about their business. And what was the first thing built in Brentford's regeneration? A parking garage. Curious that isn't being tapped for game day.And no to all who will try and put words in my mouth - I have never said nor will I ever say Chiswick needs a 9-storey parking garage. But centralized parking feeding customers into the area would be grand. It would be part and parcel of properly re-designing an urban neighborhood. But we do have an anaesthetist on the case, so no worries.

David Lesniak ● 2219d

"In my long experience that's really not how football crowds work"Sorry, Richard, I'm a newbie here only 15 years now. But correct me if I'm wrong, why would signs go up miles away from Twickenham on game day alerting you of possible delays then if not to alert you to traffic chaos ahead?It truly must hurt twisting and contorting between you're parking for none but parking for all Brentford fans positions.

David Lesniak ● 2219d

To all local residents beset with delay and frustration due to the closure of roads and LTN schemes, you heard it here first: Michael Robinson say traffic and pollution is just fine so long as its generated by Brentford fans just not by you on your way to the grocery store or to take your kids to their friends or to their rugby practice. Game day traffic: good.Your traffic: bad.

David Lesniak ● 2219d

Absolutely Richard,the brilliant transport links to the ground open up all sorts of parking opportunities a short ride away.I think the residents of Strand on the Green can rest easy.

Peter Cozens ● 2219d

Hi David,I don't know whether you've been to any football or rugby games, so my apologies if I'm telling you something you already know.A large number of supporters tend to congregate in the surrounding area before the match, eating, drinking perhaps singing, and converge on the stadium before kick off. There are a lot of people walking on the pavements and the roads. As a result the nearest roads to the venue are often blocked off to traffic. The vehicles that tend to be allowed to park closest to the venue are police vehicles and coaches bringing the visiting supporters.I don't know where the parking garage is, but it's really not a great idea to have lots of vehicles sharing the same road space as the supporters on foot, and if there is any sort of emergency when everyone is leaving by car from parking on site, you risk having all the leaving cars getting in the way of the emergency services.That said, I don't know the layout of Lionel Road Stadium, so I don't know for a fact that the concerns I've mentioned would be relevant in this case.

Andrew Jones ● 2219d

Janice, I deleted the part of my post that mentioned family,carers etc, just to see who would pick up on it. The  answer is that they are let through, just like emergency vehicles are. These roads are in as I understand it, CPZs

Bob Guyett ● 2218d

I agree with your comments. I think this is outrageous and will result in further congestion and anti-social behaviour in the area, including the historic riverside pubs.I am shocked at the response from the school and have already asked for more information.I will also support any group opposing this.

Nic Manfield ● 2218d

If anyone would like to object to this proposal then please email the Governing Body of the school at: governors@strandjuniors.hounslow.sch.uk

Alan McBride ● 2216d

Take a look at parking revenue, bus lane fines, CCTV fines, fines given out by mobile cameras and you will find the amount of money raised from Chiswick wards in Hounslow is way above the percentage of population they represent. Take a look the traffic measures currently being imposed. A disproportionate number of them are in Chiswick particularly the ones that involve cameras being installed.There is no debate that the council generates far more revenue proportionately from the Chiswick area from these sort of measures than they do from the rest of the borough.

Paul Corcoran ● 2216d

Thank you Bob.

Janice Evans ● 2216d

Thanks. I certainly will. I am shocked at the response I have received from the school, who have given in to the demands of EST. When I took the issue up with EST, who are very clearly acting on behalf of Brentford FC, all I got was marketing!

Nic Manfield ● 2216d

Of course some people may choose to congratulate the school on the way in which they have developed a new income stream to support education in this difficult time and provided properly organised parking to reduce the amount of obstructive and inconsiderate parking in the area on match days.

Francis Rowe ● 2216d

Well said, Francis.

Richard Greenhough ● 2216d

As far as I can see from its website, SOGA is neither a registered charity nor an incorporated body, so in my view it is not a "legal person" and it would be better if the person posting on its behalf used their own name and stated that they were posting on behalf of SOGA.

Richard Greenhough ● 2216d

The income stream is EST marketing. It does not take account of additional security and cleaning measures required not just at the school but in the local vicinity. The Friends of the School are already very good at raising funds without taking risks.

Nic Manfield ● 2216d

Francis, obstructive and inconsiderate parking on match days will be reduced by extending the time of operation of the SOTG, Stile Hall and West Chiswick CPZs.It remains to be seen how many drivers will park obstructively and inconsiderately for free outside these zones rather than pay £20 for the car parking (or £80 for LI season ticket holders)  For example, park near Chiswick station and 2 mins on the train to Kew Bridge.

Michael Robinson ● 2216d

Spivs who's only loyalty is to Brentford FC development.

Basil Finnis ● 2216d

What a stupid comment, Francis. How do you know how it is going to be organised? I think you would feel different if you lived in Strand on the Green.

Pippa Meldrum ● 2216d

Sounds as though Sotg school is taking over from Brentford school for girls, who have been charging for parking on home games for years, but have now stopped because of the move to the new stadium.Why not email Ruth Cadbury, and ask her. She lives in the road used for the entrance to the school, and see how the extra traffic annoyed her.

Bernard Allen ● 2215d

Bernard - I understand that local residents have emailed Ruth on various occasions about this proposal. No response to date. But in any event, I doubt local residents need to hear Ruth's personal views on what it is like to be tortured with unnecessary traffic.I really do feel for anyone living near Strand school if this ridiculous proposal goes ahead. Hopefully SoGA will intervene and persuade the governing body of the school to drop the proposal.

Pippa Meldrum ● 2215d

Michael Robinson raises a good point tangentially. Hounslow Council have refused to consult on extending match-day parking restrictions except in the CPZ's closest the new stadium. "We will cross that bridge when we get to it Cllr Hearn". If any one wishes to discuss a petition for the Fauconberg Village Area or CPZ's further east please contact me or either of my two colleagues. Alternatively we can just wait .... A consultation on changing the conditions of a CPZ takes a minimum of six months.

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 2215d

Disappointing to see our MP posting on another forum about this topic and yet no response to constituents' emails.

Alan McBride ● 2215d

She does only what it says on her tin: Brentford and Isleworth. Nothing more.This is why I think the asset of Chiswick is worth something more to another council and/or representative.

David Lesniak ● 2214d