Match day parking permits solution

8:22am Friday 7th September 2012 in News By Neil Vowles

Match day parking permits for residents have been proposed to prevent Albion supporters from clogging up residential roads.

Brighton and Hove City Council are proposing that residents in Coldean and Moulsecoomb be issued with permits that would allow them to park in their own streets on match days.

The move has been proposed to prevent Seagulls’ supporters parking close to the stadium in unofficial parking areas.

Residents have cautiously welcomed the moves to eradicate the parking problem which they have described as a “nightmare” since the stadium opened last summer.

A month-long consultation will start on September 17 and the scheme could be up and running as early as next spring.

The costs will be met by Brighton and Hove Albion and forms part of the planning permission granted for the expansion of the Amex.

Four thousand households and businesses will be sent questionnaires about the proposal.

Households will be permitted one permit for every vehicle registered to that address and given one free visitor permit.

An additional 25 visitor permits can be bought during the season. The scheme, which will focus around four junctions in Coldean and two in Moulsecoomb, will be reviewed after its first year.

Carol Lynn of Coldean Residents Association, said she welcomed the move but said that measures needed to be taken now and not in six months time.

She said: “At the last match day, it was chock-a-block.

“We had a bus stuck at Forest Road because there was no room for it to go down the road.

“Parking is as bad now as it has ever been, there are more supporters going to the stadium this season.”

An Albion spokesman said: “It is important that Albion supporters respect all of our neighbours, and we have made it clear they must not park in Moulsecoomb or Coldean.

“We ask all fans to use one of the many sustainable methods of transport available and included in their Amex ticket price.”

Councillor Matt Follett, deputy chairman of the transport committee, said the scheme would operate all day when there are matches or events at the Amex.

What do you think of the scheme? Tell us by writing to our letters page, by emailing letters@theargus.co.uk or leaving a comment at theargus.co.uk/news

Comments(26)

Sussex jim says...
8:34am Fri 7 Sep 12

These parking problems were inevitable and solutions like this should have been in place when the stadium opened.
Even if there is adequate parking,and free, at the venue there will still be those who park in nearby streets to avoid the queues upon exit.
It's good to hear these permits will be free for a change, and not used as yet another opportunity to further squeeze money from motorists.

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cvs says...
8:42am Fri 7 Sep 12

Notice the real issue here. Additional permits can be BOUGHT. The council has smelt more money

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monkeymoo says...
8:49am Fri 7 Sep 12

cvs wrote:
Notice the real issue here. Additional permits can be BOUGHT. The council has smelt more money
As these extra permits are going to be available for money. Does that mean the local residents can sell their allocated ones?
I'm sure this will be going on, as the locals SMELL THE MONEY!!

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MrHove says...
8:50am Fri 7 Sep 12

The answer is to sort out the train service in and out the Amex, who ever designed Falmer station should be shot as it's nowhere near big enough to hold the number of people that is required on match day.

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pjwilk says...
8:58am Fri 7 Sep 12

Once a fortnight why worry its only 2-3 hour max.I am sure Moulsecoomb residents can look after themselves,or go shopping.

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HJarrs says...
9:24am Fri 7 Sep 12

I have to smile as some of the people that are issued parking permits will happily complain about not being able to park in residential streets elsewhere in B&H.

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Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit says...
10:11am Fri 7 Sep 12

MrHove wrote:
The answer is to sort out the train service in and out the Amex, who ever designed Falmer station should be shot as it's nowhere near big enough to hold the number of people that is required on match day.
To be fair, when Falmer station was designed (in the 1840s!) it was for a sleepy little village, not to serve two universities and a football stadium.

I do have an element of sympathy with the residents, but it was inevitable - public transport was never going to cope. It's interesting to note that in the original planning application the club said that 100%, yes, 100% of away fans would arrive by coach!

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Hoarder12345444 says...
10:30am Fri 7 Sep 12

I still fail to understand how they will police this. All people have to do is park up on say hawkhurst road and if someone asks them what they are doing they could either refuse to tell them or just say they are visiting someone. I don't know how you make an area like Coldean have temporary parking restrictions unless you put up signs and mark spaces etc, both of which cost a lot of money. If it is just a matter of people policing it, how can they? My car is taxed and road worthy and therefore allowed to be parked on any public road for any length of time that has no parking restrictions. So how could they stop me parking there? Someone please tell me!!

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s_james says...
10:32am Fri 7 Sep 12

"who ever designed Falmer station should be shot" .... possibly one of the funniest things I've seen on the Argus website!

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Crystal Ball says...
10:55am Fri 7 Sep 12

Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit wrote:
MrHove wrote:
The answer is to sort out the train service in and out the Amex, who ever designed Falmer station should be shot as it's nowhere near big enough to hold the number of people that is required on match day.
To be fair, when Falmer station was designed (in the 1840s!) it was for a sleepy little village, not to serve two universities and a football stadium.

I do have an element of sympathy with the residents, but it was inevitable - public transport was never going to cope. It's interesting to note that in the original planning application the club said that 100%, yes, 100% of away fans would arrive by coach!
"100%"?! And back in the Real World...

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Postman_Pat says...
11:15am Fri 7 Sep 12

What happens when the club no longer want to pay for the parking restrictions? Will it revert to a free-for-all or more likely that the council will charge for permits?

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chilliman says...
11:41am Fri 7 Sep 12

Why should Falmer be any different? The parking was always an issue around Withdean. For the first year or so there was some attempt to steward it but that reduced to some "Residents Parking Only" signs and then they disappeared as well. Even the use of Mill Road as a park and ride didn't solve anything.

Falmer station has been there a lot longer than the stadium or either university and wasn't designed to take a lot of passengers - most of the time it still doesn't.

If you want a major sporting venue then make ample provision for the users of it instead of just hoping the problem will go away if you shout La La La loudly enough with your ears covered and eyes closed.

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The Real Phil says...
12:23pm Fri 7 Sep 12

Any unrestricted parking is quite rightly free for all (provided the motorists have paid their road fund license), The article does not make it absolutely clear about the costs though. BHA have agreed to meet the costs, but does that just involve the cost of setting up the scheme, leaving the residents to pick up the bill for the cost of a permit? I have never heard of free residents' parking and would be surprised if it was ti be introduced in our fair city.

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Boing Boing. says...
1:09pm Fri 7 Sep 12

Why not just park in The Wild Park? Never stops the travellers!

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Fairfax Sakes says...
1:21pm Fri 7 Sep 12

Oh boo hoo to all the residents. If you dont liek having to share your parkin space, move! You knew there was a stadium there when you bought the house, you want to eat ur cake and eat it.

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paladin27 says...
1:25pm Fri 7 Sep 12

I use the park & ride, so can comment objectively. Hoarder12345444 is right and if your car is taxed and road worthy you should be allowed to park on any public road for any length of time that has no parking restrictions. I live in walking distance of Withdean Stadium and people parked in my road on match days and provided that they did not cause an obstruction we just got on with it.

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paul76 says...
1:46pm Fri 7 Sep 12

Seems like a perfect excuse for the good old Greens to make Coldean a pay to park your own car outside your own house area in the very near future.

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Tallywhacker says...
2:31pm Fri 7 Sep 12

Fairfax Sakes wrote:
Oh boo hoo to all the residents. If you dont liek having to share your parkin space, move! You knew there was a stadium there when you bought the house, you want to eat ur cake and eat it.
After the expectation that 19th century station builders should have known that a stadium was going to be built now people who have lived in their houses for 30 years should have known as well. Maybe the youth of Coldean and Moulscoombe could offer a car sitting service so the footie followers cars are safe from damage theft and vandalism while they block the local roads.

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Sevensisters says...
3:02pm Fri 7 Sep 12

pjwilk wrote:
Once a fortnight why worry its only 2-3 hour max.I am sure Moulsecoomb residents can look after themselves,or go shopping.
I live in Coldean and I didnt get a questionaire! The supporters park outside my house. Just means I have to walk a few extra yards. As pjwilk wrote its only once a fortnight.

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mdj747 says...
10:56pm Fri 7 Sep 12

Parking legally on unrestricted roads ,cannot be wrong ,,BUT come and see the parking ,,buses cant pass at some points,where buses cant pass neither will Emergancy vehicles, solid lines of parked supporters cars ,woe betide if you meet anything oncoming around a corner.
You cant go out when a match is on and If you do,try getting back into the estate,nightmare !!
There does need to be a soloution,the following is from a e-mail recieved from the Transport manager at the Amex ,to say we feel let down is kinda of a understatement!

Clearly there was always going to be some level of parking impact on local roads but without knowing how big the problem would be it was impossible to provide a solution. The phrase I would use is ‘putting the cart before the horse’. Now we have a clear understanding for the scale of the problem as noted in recent media reports we are working with the Council to ensure that we don’t not cause you any disruption to your streets.

Unaltered !

That was December last year ,,now any "scheme" is going to be next year !!
I,m pro-stadium ,,pro- Albion ,and pro -park consideratly !!

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Brightonlad86 says...
8:17am Sat 8 Sep 12

I live on Hawkhurst Road in Coldean and never really experienced problems parking. Even if I did, I do not have a god given right to park right on my doorstep. If you have to park further up in Coldean then so what?? From what I have seen, many of us could do with the exercise.

Unless people are parked illegally leave them alone! We ALL do what we can to avoid huge parking costs etc... If your going to moan at them, take a look at yourself!!

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Hove Actually says...
9:32am Sat 8 Sep 12

The council will not be able to stop them selves from charging all the time once they can do it on a Saturday/Tuesday evening etc.
It will mean thousands of people will be forbidden from having visitors when the Albion are playing at home.

Why not just build a proper Park & Ride at the junction of the A23/A27 which could serve the City and the Stadium thus helping everyone except NCP with cheap travel to and from by the bus company....SIMPLE which is why our spineless politicians wont do it

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pjwilk says...
10:00am Sat 8 Sep 12

Sevensisters wrote:
pjwilk wrote:
Once a fortnight why worry its only 2-3 hour max.I am sure Moulsecoomb residents can look after themselves,or go shopping.
I live in Coldean and I didnt get a questionaire! The supporters park outside my house. Just means I have to walk a few extra yards. As pjwilk wrote its only once a fortnight.
A very sensible view from Sevensisters ,be very afraid of parking permits because once its starts there will never be free parking in Coldean or Moulsecoombe again.

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mdj747 says...
10:16am Sat 8 Sep 12

A scheme exist's for the Stadium already ,it covers Falmer village,how does this work ?
Any input anyone ?

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caeos says...
10:41pm Sat 8 Sep 12

how about part time traffic lights on the falmer bridge roundabouts? that would also assist in not just falmer matches but every day tail backs and barging in of cars up the slip road

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martyt says...
9:46pm Sun 9 Sep 12

when will they stop the idiots parking along falmer road ,some with young
kids and walking along the road in the dark some one will get killed all for some one to save a few quid not getting the park and ride !

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