Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Dave P on March 06, 2022, 02:35:26 PM
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Inspired from comments on the Saints post match thread, I too have issues with parking around by Vicarage Road. If you don’t get there 3 and a half hours before kick off, you have no chance of parking on the main road and the side roads are all manned by very unfriendly kids in high viz who demand money. There seem to have increased the residents parking zones around there too and they must have an council officer patrolling during the game based on the amounts of tickets I see on car windows.
If we get a 50000 capacity stadium, this will only get worse.
I know it’s a often mentioned, but car parking around the ground is an issue.
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How was the transport situation , when we had 48000 capacity in the standing days
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Better public transport. Lines of buses heading back into town post match.
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My perception was always that more used to travel by train pre covid, might be wrong but the roads seem massively heavier since we have been allowed back. The other perception I get is that after games more traffic is allowed to head towards the stadium than before making it harder for cars & pedestrians to get away - particularly taxis.
We hear a lot of lip service which is surely to support the 50k expansion plan but I can’t say I am convinced that anything is going to change, you aren’t going to get anymore official car parks in reasonable walking distance (particularly with the revenue the council / AN Other are making from ticketing cars) & there is no chance of getting a better train service. Could a park and ride work?
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Parking around the Aston Hall Road area has become a nightmare too. On some of the adjacent non-residential, totally commercial (not working on Saturday afternoons past 1p.m) roads, they have yellow lines. It's nothing but sheer bloody-mindedness which resulted in upwards of 60 cars receiving parking tickets following the Watford game. What's wrong with using areas like these (provided emergency access isn't blocked) for parking outside of working hours on match days?
I'm sure I'm not the only one who's started to (reluctantly) limit the number of matches I go to (I live 40miles out - chronic public transport, so have to use a car), because of the sheer hell of match parking.
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I agree spartacuss - seriously thinking after 30 years that the parking and exiting after game is too much of a ball ache to do 20+ times a season
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For those over 60, there is a over sixty's railcard normally 30 pounds for one year or 3 year card at seventy pounds, you get a third off train prices, sure you get the railcard cheaper now due to a promotion
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Since moving to Shirley I haven't actually been to Villa, but quite looking forward to being able to get the train to a match.
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It's worse now because of not having the Leisure Centre car park. If we could cut a deal with the industrial estate car parks along Aston Hall Road, then you'd have less residential parking, and a thousand cars all within seconds of the Lichfield Road and Spaghetti Junction.
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If and when i drive i normally park under the motorway on Moor Kane, which is about a 20-25 walk to the ground, passed the yew tree pub and witton station etc. bit of a ball ache, but once back at the car, apart from maybe 10 mins of traffic, your away. I made the mistake against Watford of parking the other side of Aston Park, i only live in Sutton, but took me to 6.45pm to get home, due to traffic on the lichield rd.
yesterday got the train. Left the ground about 5pm, got to Aston station about 5.10, train came just after 5.20, was in my house just before 5.45pm, not bad at all.
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Always used to park on the Holford estate, 20 minute walk but could generally get away no problem after final whistle to both sides of Brum.
Just asking for trouble to park right on VP doorstep and expect to get away quickly but I accept not everyone wants to spend ages walking to and from the ground.
Star City another obvious option.
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This is one area Christian Purslow needs to address. Why don't they run shuttle bus services particularly from the Centre to and from the ground? Less cars means less pollution that the Council Transportation Department keeps banging on about.
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As Second City our transport performance is absolutely woeful. I went to a gig in town after the game last night, no chance of catching a cross city train after 11 o'clock so £18 to park for three hours and £8 clean air zone charge which I'd have had to pay twice if I'd stayed in town after midnight.
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This is one area Christian Purslow needs to address. Why don't they run shuttle bus services particularly from the Centre to and from the ground? Less cars means less pollution that the Council Transportation Department keeps banging on about.
We're a football club. Buses are for the bus companies.
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Well it's going to be interesting when the the club applies for Planning Permission for the circa 10,000 stadium expansion. A Traffic Impact Assessment will be needed to support the Application.
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This is one area Christian Purslow needs to address. Why don't they run shuttle bus services particularly from the Centre to and from the ground? Less cars means less pollution that the Council Transportation Department keeps banging on about.
We're a football club. Buses are for the bus companies.
True but I went to Uni for three years in Stoke and due to their ground obviously being in the arse end of nowhere on a godforsaken windswept hill you could get quite a few shuttle buses outside the station and in centre of Stoke rather than having to walk alongside the canal so it can happen if the will is there.
Obviously VP is different in terms of location but train frequency has taken a hit post pandemic and I think a massive opportunity has been lost with tram extensions to have one terminating at Star City so that could've easily transported a couple of thousands a matchday to VP. Also should've had one going to Alex Stadium but if there's no will to do it now it won't happen in next decade.
There will surely have to be some transport tweaks in the expansion plan for the council to approve you'd think.
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Due to work I’ve tried a couple of times when night matches are on to drive but arriving after 7 it’s nigh on impossible to park. This along with a parking ticket has put me off tbh.
The cross city train is great for getting there but as discussed previously after the game it’s a nightmare. On Saturday we decided at 80 minutes to leave to get the train just to miss the huge queues at Aston station.
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I park by Aston Hall and have to be there 3 hours prior to kick off to get a space - there are guys their demanding £5.00 to look after your car (I have not yet paid), I would imagine that if you are a lady driver and they approached your car, this could be very intimidating for her.
I am taking a book with me to read in my car to pass the time, before walking to the ground
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A trip Villa Park has degenerated into 3+ hours of queuing.
Queuing to park, queuing to get into Holte Suite, queuing at the bar, queuing to get into the upper Holte, queuing for a pre,match pie, queuing for half time beer, queuing to get out the car park and finally queuing in traffic.
After the Leeds game there were a number of Traffic Police managing cars onto the Lichfield Road which felt like it speeded things up. Not there on Saturday though which meant an hour sitting in traffic.
And yes I could get the train but that involved queuing in Lovers Lane for hour an last time - at the least the car is warm and dry.
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I still don't understand why they don't go back to a one-way system after the game to get the traffic away.
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Back in the 70s I lived in Tintern Rd-off Aston Lane.
And there were buses parked all along the Broadway waiting for the full time whistle.
Then shepherding fans to town/Erdington.
Also,there was a traffic policeman at Perry Barr island after the match to facilitate traffic from Witton and Aston Lane .
Now I don't see a number 7 on Witton Rd after the match.
A dedicated taxi area would help.
Extra buses for even half an hour .
Traffic management at Perry Barr,Six Ways Aston and Witton after the match for an hour.
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Due to work I’ve tried a couple of times when night matches are on to drive but arriving after 7 it’s nigh on impossible to park. This along with a parking ticket has put me off tbh.
The cross city train is great for getting there but as discussed previously after the game it’s a nightmare. On Saturday we decided at 80 minutes to leave to get the train just to miss the huge queues at Aston station.
They weren’t too bad on Saturday..waited about five minutes in the queue
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It’s a shame because it also impacts on the match atmosphere.
4-0 up & swathes of people leaving.
The team ending a 4-0 victory in front of a half empty Villa Park.
This isn’t what we want success to look like - it’s exactly what so many have taken the piss out of some other teams for.
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Very true Amfy. I don’t think I’ve ever seen as many people leave early as I did on Saturday. Certainly not whilst winning !
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It could be a false memory from me, but I seem to recall there being more trains with more carriages back in the days when I used to get the train. Or perhaps it was just because our attendances weren’t as high? 🤷♂️
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It could be a false memory from me, but I seem to recall there being more trains with more carriages back in the days when I used to get the train. Or perhaps it was just because our attendances weren’t as high? 🤷♂️
The frequency of trains was cut during the pandemic from 6 an hour to 4.
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It’s a shame because it also impacts on the match atmosphere.
4-0 up & swathes of people leaving.
The team ending a 4-0 victory in front of a half empty Villa Park.
This isn’t what we want success to look like - it’s exactly what so many have taken the piss out of some other teams for.
I noticed this on the telly. It was like the dark days of DOL without the wankers signs to the pitch and the V's to the 'dougout'. I'm sure* those who need to 'beat the traffic' are the very same who need chips and curry sauce on 37 minutes. I understand it but it is disappointing.
*Not really.
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It’s a shame because it also impacts on the match atmosphere.
4-0 up & swathes of people leaving.
The team ending a 4-0 victory in front of a half empty Villa Park.
This isn’t what we want success to look like - it’s exactly what so many have taken the piss out of some other teams for.
I noticed this on the telly. It was like the dark days of DOL without the wankers signs to the pitch and the V's to the 'dougout'. I'm sure* those who need to 'beat the traffic' are the very same who need chips and curry sauce on 37 minutes. I understand it but it is disappointing.
*Not really.
37 minutes...you're avin a larf more like 32/33 i sit on end of row and continuously getting pestered to let people out.
I am one of those though that leave early ...struggle to walk so basically get a head start when clock strikes 90+
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It did seem particularly bad on Saturday, felt like we were going to lose 4 -0 rather than a great win and a great performance. I always stay to clap them off (Wolves excepted) and didnt get the exodus bit.
On the trains, I suspect they will stick to 4 an hour on the cross city. Apparently they are more punctual that way! In fairness, they are all 6 carriage as well. Train spotter bit over.
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Think when I do finally go to another game, I'll get the train. Will just have a few pints after the game, to let the traffic die down at the station.
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Think when I do finally go to another game, I'll get the train. Will just have a few pints after the game, to let the traffic die down at the station.
It’s what we’ve been doing for years, just a pity the Swan and Mitre has gone as you could time your departure to the minute for the train.
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This is one area Christian Purslow needs to address. Why don't they run shuttle bus services particularly from the Centre to and from the ground? Less cars means less pollution that the Council Transportation Department keeps banging on about.
We're a football club. Buses are for the bus companies.
True but I went to Uni for three years in Stoke and due to their ground obviously being in the arse end of nowhere on a godforsaken windswept hill you could get quite a few shuttle buses outside the station and in centre of Stoke rather than having to walk alongside the canal so it can happen if the will is there.
Obviously VP is different in terms of location but train frequency has taken a hit post pandemic and I think a massive opportunity has been lost with tram extensions to have one terminating at Star City so that could've easily transported a couple of thousands a matchday to VP. Also should've had one going to Alex Stadium but if there's no will to do it now it won't happen in next decade.
There will surely have to be some transport tweaks in the expansion plan for the council to approve you'd think.
I went to uni in Stoke for three years in the 90s, when were you there?
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This is one area Christian Purslow needs to address. Why don't they run shuttle bus services particularly from the Centre to and from the ground? Less cars means less pollution that the Council Transportation Department keeps banging on about.
We're a football club. Buses are for the bus companies.
True but I went to Uni for three years in Stoke and due to their ground obviously being in the arse end of nowhere on a godforsaken windswept hill you could get quite a few shuttle buses outside the station and in centre of Stoke rather than having to walk alongside the canal so it can happen if the will is there.
Obviously VP is different in terms of location but train frequency has taken a hit post pandemic and I think a massive opportunity has been lost with tram extensions to have one terminating at Star City so that could've easily transported a couple of thousands a matchday to VP. Also should've had one going to Alex Stadium but if there's no will to do it now it won't happen in next decade.
There will surely have to be some transport tweaks in the expansion plan for the council to approve you'd think.
I went to uni in Stoke for three years in the 90s, when were you there?
The Pulis/Delap years.
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This is one area Christian Purslow needs to address. Why don't they run shuttle bus services particularly from the Centre to and from the ground? Less cars means less pollution that the Council Transportation Department keeps banging on about.
We're a football club. Buses are for the bus companies.
True but I went to Uni for three years in Stoke and due to their ground obviously being in the arse end of nowhere on a godforsaken windswept hill you could get quite a few shuttle buses outside the station and in centre of Stoke rather than having to walk alongside the canal so it can happen if the will is there.
Obviously VP is different in terms of location but train frequency has taken a hit post pandemic and I think a massive opportunity has been lost with tram extensions to have one terminating at Star City so that could've easily transported a couple of thousands a matchday to VP. Also should've had one going to Alex Stadium but if there's no will to do it now it won't happen in next decade.
There will surely have to be some transport tweaks in the expansion plan for the council to approve you'd think.
I went to uni in Stoke for three years in the 90s, when were you there?
The Pulis/Delap years.
Ahh way after me then, i was Lou Macari, still at the Victoria Ground, about to move.