Villa Park Redevelopment

[The Edge]

Perry Barr station got an upgrade didn't it?

For the commonwealth games, which it wasn’t finished for, which wasn’t a major issue as the athletes village at Perry Barr wasn’t finished either.

Exactly. The apathy and snails pace construction is infuriating. Also there was a large amount of money from central government. The money for Witton Station redevelopment is coming from the club and the WMCA.

[Chap]

McDonalds demolished the old Seventh Trap at Perry Barr and built the replacement drive through in its place in about 10 weeks before the CG. Just shows, money talks.

[Villafirst]

I posted weeks ago about the Witton Station upgrade money not being finalised. A rather glaring oversight......

[FatSam]

The decision on Euro 28 host isn’t made until September. Hosting games has been estimated to be worth over £100m to the city. I think WMCA might wait to make any decision on Witton Station until it has been confirmed.

[eamonn]

With Purslow gone, who at the club is on this to consistently make our case?

[Dave P]

The decision on Euro 28 host isn’t made until September. Hosting games has been estimated to be worth over £100m to the city. I think WMCA might wait to make any decision on Witton Station until it has been confirmed.

I think this is the key.  Its the old chicken and egg scenario.  The council wont put the money in without the Euros coming to Birmingham and we wont start the stand work without the station confirmed.

[PeterWithe]

Villa need the stand whether the Euros come or not.

[The Edge]

The decision on Euro 28 host isn’t made until September. Hosting games has been estimated to be worth over £100m to the city. I think WMCA might wait to make any decision on Witton Station until it has been confirmed.

I think this is the key.  Its the old chicken and egg scenario.  The council wont put the money in without the Euros coming to Birmingham and we wont start the stand work without the station confirmed.

And we won't get the Euros at Villa Park unless we can guarantee that the stadium upgrade will be completed well before 2028. It would seem we have a bit of a conundrum on our hands.

[Risso]

Villa need the stand whether the Euros come or not.

We do, but we also need the local transport infrastructure to be able to cope which it struggles with already.

[PeterWithe]

Agreed, but the planning permission isn't dependent on it, is it?

[Risso]

Agreed, but the planning permission isn't dependent on it, is it?

I don't think so legally, no. But it looks like the club aren't going to commit to anything until the council agrees to the station upgrade.

[LeeB]

I'm comfortable with it, I like my seat

[Hookeysmith]

Perry Barr station got an upgrade didn't it?

For the commonwealth games, which it wasn’t finished for, which wasn’t a major issue as the athletes village at Perry Barr wasn’t finished either.

And still isn't - not one apartment occupied as yet

[Des Little]

The two recent gigs at VP gave us the chance to demonstrate the failings of the stadium and local travel infrastructure to a whole new audience. Which is nice.

[PaulMcGrathsNo5Shirt]

I was at the Springsteen gig on Friday, after a cheeky few in the Barton Arms heading to Villa Park was easy enough, arriving at the ground the ground was in effect split into four zones, A,B,C & D - with fans heading to that zone to access the ground with lots of Harris type fencing preventing you from walking around the ground like on a match day.
Getting home was an absolute nightmare, even as someone who know various routes back home. The road closure heading towards the city centre between spaghetti junction and Aston Train station meant loads of people not familiar with the area looking aimlessly at trying to get back into the city centre. No extra trains either from what I gather.

A superb gig, with lots of people from outside of the city very complimentary of the stadium but in disbelief at how shit it was to get away. Crazy really when right next to a motorway junction and two railway stations a few minutes walk away. (They did put on shuttle buses to be fair but I think a lot of folk didn't want to sit in the traffic for so long and took their chances with public transport)