Last Wednesday evening there was another example of a traffic snarl-up in this area between 4 and 8pm associated with a home game at White Hart Lane (at 8pm). The coaches that come to Ally Pally station are presumably intended to pick up fans coming by train, but many of them come by car and try to park around here - hence the problems. If the coach drivers checked that their passengers had train tickets, seats could be restricted to those who come by train. Is there any possibility that the Council could require this, in line with their Streets for People policy?
You need to be a member of Alexandra Park Neighbours to add comments!
Replies
The info that Spurs publish about those buses (at https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/the-stadium/attending-matches/gett...) describes them as "a free pre-booked shuttle bus service, which is accessible and available for all supporters", and doesn't mention any requirement to be arriving by train. I've just tried their booking system there, and the only information it asks for is an email address and which match you're booking for - they don't ask how you're arriving, or even if you have match tickets!
So, any rules about who can use those shuttle buses seem to have been completely forgotten...
(Edit:) I guess that on a practical level, it would be very difficult for them to enforce a requirement to have a train ticket, because a lot of people will use a contactless bank card on the trains.
Yes, it looks that way.
In the meeting with Tottenham representatives, I was assured that the supporters arriving in cars were to be directed to a parking facility in Edmonton from which they would be transported by coaches to the stadium. No cars would be parked in the streets anywhere in the borough. The Council had made all these plans, so I was not worried that this provision may be abandoned by Tottenham FC as it was in the power of the Council and our councillors to intervene to protect the interests of the residents, and also to ensure there was no undue congestion as a result of the scheme. It still should be, though more difficult of course, with the passage of time.
Coaches are only for the fans who have train tickets. They should not be able to board without those.
The then councillor Nick da Costa and I (as a concerned resident agitating about the impact of the proposed service on my neighbourhood) had a meeting with the Spurs representatives before the service started. We proposed that the collection point be moved to the Chocolate factory car park or to the road adjacent (always quiet in the evenings and with plenty of space for pop-up vans to serve the fans with refreshments). The main concern was that the railway bridge is on a primary route for emergency services and parked coaches could add to traffic congestion and slow down emergency vehicles. Then there was the inconvenience for us residents. The Spurs representatives stated they were happy to agree to this alternative pick-up point or any other suitable. It would be the Council decision, not theirs. I left that meeting believing we had an agreement and that our councillors would set the thing in motion. Councillor Rosetti took over from Councillor da Costa on this. I dont know how far she got. The lock-down halted many initiatives and this may have been one of those that had fallen through the cracks.
Another home game at White Hart Lane on Saturday - and again major congestion around the Triangle - were these connected? It didn't seem to be linked with parking issues - the tailback was from Wood Green.
Again, on this, i was assured by the Spurs community liaison officer that the tickets would only be sold as part of a package that included train and coach service from the points outside London. This had been agreed with the TFL. The season ticket holders were to be directed to a car park somewhere in Edmonton. Again, this was to prevent congestion at peak times. But, that was the plan and like all plans may not be followed if not revisited.
Thanks for this interesting info, Indijana! That's great that you and Nick had a meeting with Spurs reps. about this issue. I wonder if the coach drivers are checking tickets?