Villa Park Redevelopment

[Chris Smith]

Maybe the club threaten to move to a site nr the NEC to get the transport issue moving. Moving Villa to Solihul, def no for me but may focus a few people at BCC.

There's no suitable land near the NEC.

Out of interest where is there somewhere suitable in or near Birmingham?
I am still pretty sure that many of the problems with VP are solvable with organisation imagination and commitment.

I agree, there are two stations within walking distance, 2 arterial roads (A34, A38), easy access to the Motorway system and several bus routes in all directions. Part of it is the type of improvements you suggest but also finding ways to stagger the times people leave the area. We’ve always tended to stay in Aston for a few pints after the game and it’s a doddle getting the trains once the immediate post match rush is over.

[AV82EC]

I think it has held the City back for decades.

Other than the obvious exception London poor transportation has held every British City back for decades. Poor skills and education and housing plays its part but Transport plays a huge negative role in our productivity issues as a nation.

[dave.woodhall]

I think it has held the City back for decades.

Other than the obvious exception London poor transportation has held every British City back for decades. Poor skills and education and housing plays its part but Transport plays a huge negative role in our productivity issues as a nation.

"Our people drive cars" has been government philosophy for decades.

[LeeB]

The attitude now seems to be that giving people decent public transport will cost them revenue from fleecing drivers blind for trying to use their cars

[AV82EC]

I think it has held the City back for decades.

Other than the obvious exception London poor transportation has held every British City back for decades. Poor skills and education and housing plays its part but Transport plays a huge negative role in our productivity issues as a nation.

"Our people drive cars" has been government philosophy for decades.

Quickly forgetting the fact we are a small island and certainly in England reasonably densely populated and you can’t tarmac over every bloody square inch of it.

[Risso]

How hard can it be to upgrade a train station to be fit for purpose? They've just built an entire new train line through the middle of bloody London. Manchester got an entire new stadium, a velodrome and an aquatics centre on the back of its Commonwealth Games, what did Brum get? Holding up a major infrastructure improvement for the city's biggest club and its surrounding area is just peak Birmingham.

[DB]

Maybe the club threaten to move to a site nr the NEC to get the transport issue moving. Moving Villa to Solihul, def no for me but may focus a few people at BCC.

There's no suitable land near the NEC.

Especially not since they've up everything just east of it for the bloody HS2

Ok, maybe not in close proximity to NEC but a site where we could look at as leverage to get things done for VP expansion.

[DB]

How hard can it be to upgrade a train station to be fit for purpose? They've just built an entire new train line through the middle of bloody London. Manchester got an entire new stadium, a velodrome and an aquatics centre on the back of its Commonwealth Games, what did Brum get? Holding up a major infrastructure improvement for the city's biggest club and its surrounding area is just peak Birmingham.

Agree, it will get done when they look at how much revenue it will bring in both for Villa events and the Euros.

[BC Villain]

Treasury Brain strikes again. Street needs to keep applying the pressure and earn his money.

You must be joking.  I'm still waiting for Streets people to respond to my query about why I have to wait an hour for the 11 bus when it's supposed to be every 6 minutes.

[dave.woodhall]

Maybe the club threaten to move to a site nr the NEC to get the transport issue moving. Moving Villa to Solihul, def no for me but may focus a few people at BCC.

There's no suitable land near the NEC.

Especially not since they've up everything just east of it for the bloody HS2

Ok, maybe not in close proximity to NEC but a site where we could look at as leverage to get things done for VP expansion.

There is nowhere. You'd need two motorway junctions, arterial roads leading to them, other roads leading to the arterial roads, train stations or other upgraded public transport and that's before the other infrastructure. 

[Chris Smith]

How hard can it be to upgrade a train station to be fit for purpose? They've just built an entire new train line through the middle of bloody London. Manchester got an entire new stadium, a velodrome and an aquatics centre on the back of its Commonwealth Games, what did Brum get? Holding up a major infrastructure improvement for the city's biggest club and its surrounding area is just peak Birmingham.

Agree, it will get done when they look at how much revenue it will bring in both for Villa events and the Euros.

The problem with any project like this it has to be done while still allowing the station to be used. The upgrade at University has been going for a couple of years.

[DB]

Maybe the club threaten to move to a site nr the NEC to get the transport issue moving. Moving Villa to Solihul, def no for me but may focus a few people at BCC.

There's no suitable land near the NEC.

Especially not since they've up everything just east of it for the bloody HS2

Ok, maybe not in close proximity to NEC but a site where we could look at as leverage to get things done for VP expansion.

There is nowhere. You'd need two motorway junctions, arterial roads leading to them, other roads leading to the arterial roads, train stations or other upgraded public transport and that's before the other infrastructure. 

I don’t think any of the UK’s +50k stadiums have anywhere near that level of infrastructure.

[LeeB]

I was amazed twice last season at how easy it was to get to and from Old Trafford with 75,000 people in attendance

[VILLA MOLE]

I was amazed twice last season at how easy it was to get to and from Old Trafford with 75,000 people in attendance

So why is that ?  Buses trains car parks ,  a combination

[Risso]

I don’t think any of the UK’s +50k stadiums have anywhere near that level of infrastructure.

I'd say these big stadia are all quite easy to access:

Newcastle - 10 mins walk out of the city centre and the train station, plus Newcastle has a metro.
West Ham - Main line train station 10 minutes walk (before the game, not after but that's another matter) and close to several tubes.
Arsenal - loads of tubes and one stop from Kings Cross
Old Trafford - on the edge an industrial park with a tram stop and surrounded by dual carriageways
Man City - out of town, decent tram connections and close to several major roads

Shit to get to:
Liverpool - in the middle of an old built up area, similar issues with narrow streets and lack of local infrastructure to Villa.
Spurs - in London, but a pain in the arse to get to.