Bennetts Field Temporary Car Park at the Amex

[Gwylan]

Really?

My recollection is, literally, completely the opposite - there was a massive amount of on-street parking all around the Goldstone. The streets in almost every direction for great distances afforded on-street parking on residential roads. It's what we always did travelling from the West.

I went by car many, many times with my dad or with mates and I don't recall us ever getting to within 15 minutes of the ground. We normally parked the other side of Hove Rec as there were so few spaces anywhere closer. It's true that there was on-street parking but there were very few spaces.

 

[ROSM]

I went by car many, many times with my dad or with mates and I don't recall us ever getting to within 15 minutes of the ground. We normally parked the other side of Hove Rec as there were so few spaces anywhere closer. It's true that there was on-street parking but there were very few spaces.

Used to park in Poets corner/princep road. Also used to use Founthill and near the old tennis club

 

[Bozza]

I went by car many, many times with my dad or with mates and I don't recall us ever getting to within 15 minutes of the ground. We normally parked the other side of Hove Rec as there were so few spaces anywhere closer. It's true that there was on-street parking but there were very few spaces.

What would be your estimate of on-street parking spaces within 20 mins walking of the Amex, versus the number within 20 minutes of the Goldstone?

My reckoning has it few:loads.

 

[Tooting Gull]

My recollection of parking at the Goldstone is that is was very easy. You had loads of on-street, free parking within a 15-minute walk (close by football ground standards) and on all sides of the ground. I never had to look too hard for a space, even at 2.30pm. Also people got there by a variety of major roads, so the traffic was split.

I don't want to get dewy-eyed about it because overall the new place is miles better, but on the parking point Falmer will be a lot more difficult.

 

[Easy 10]

people who dont have a parking space with (1901) have no reason to drive next to the stadium.

Were all aware that there is little or no parking spaces on-site or nearby so why would you drive to the stadium if you already know you cant park there!

An excellent point.

I suppose the concern is that its fairly busy there with the usual traffic flow and this is obviously only going to add to it. But there shouldn't be a significant number of additional cars heading directly for the stadium and that B2123 junction, because as you say, there's nowhere there for them to park anyway.

Where I can see some snarl-ups is if the P&R is oversubscribed, people will be making a beeline for Coldean and Moulsecombe to park up and be within a reasonable walking distance, which is a method that had already crossed my mind to try out.

 

[Bozza]

An excellent point.

I suppose the concern is that its fairly busy there with the usual traffic flow and this is obviously only going to add to it. But there shouldn't be a significant number of additional cars heading directly for the stadium and that B2123 junction, because as you say, there's nowhere there for them to park anyway.

I think you under-estimate the away fans factor. Nomatter what they are told in advance, a lot will drive. And for most football fans that will mean...

1. Set sat nav for the destination stadium.
2. Blindly follow sat nav until very close to the stadium.
3. Try and park, possibly having reached the stadium and started to head away again.

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

I can foresee the streets of Moulescoomb and Coldean full of matchday car parkers due to the availability of free and plentiful on street parking there, all within 10 minutes walk.

There is a parking strategy being put in place in Moulescoombe to stop matchday parking so that's another load of parking that won't be available.

I seem to remember that the club said that they would be able to use a car park opposite Mithras House which was larger than there as well as continuing MH. Not sure how many extra spaces this would provide.

The 1700 figure I used earlier for P&R includes both Mithras House and the other building (Cockroft House). Breakdown is 520 at Mill Road, 500 at Mithras/Cockroft and up to 700 at the racecourse.

 

[Daffy Duck]

We used to go to Gillingham on double-decker buses and always had the police escort us back on to the motorway after the game.

There's bound to be teething problems for the first few months, the same as there were at Withdean , but I don't think we should panic too much.
People will soon suss out what their best method of travel is and, after a few games, I'm sure the club will have a better idea of what works and what doesn't.
It's a learning curve for all of us.
That's partly why new grounds need to have ramp-up events.

And also, for the first couple of games, people will probably be getting to the ground really early (I know I will) to soak up the whole new experience. So the mad rush just before kick-off will be staggered.

 

[ManOnTheRun]

I went by car many, many times with my dad or with mates and I don't recall us ever getting to within 15 minutes of the ground. We normally parked the other side of Hove Rec as there were so few spaces anywhere closer. It's true that there was on-street parking but there were very few spaces.

The Goldstone had masses of free on street parking available in every direction, all within a 15-20 walk. Don't forget it was a time before parking restrictions of any note. I’m guessing (I never got the train to games) Hove Station would have had more frequent services, than Falmer Station will be able to accommodate.

If travel to the Amex ends up being as easy as it was for the Goldstone then great but at the moment it looks like it will be far more challenging.*

*Disclaimer. This is not a Whine or Moan

 

[Tooting Gull]

people will be making a beeline for Coldean and Moulsecombe to park up and be within a reasonable walking distance, which is a method that had already crossed my mind to try out.

Must admit, I tried that on a recce mission prior to the Amex appointment, and parked in one of those Coldean roads next to the Hikers Rest. It was probably about 20 minutes brisk walk from there. There must be places in East Moulsecombe over the other side of the main road as well. My fear is that some bright council spark might decide to meter it all, which given the chronic lack of alternative available parking and limited benefit would be a huge mistake and cause a lot more problems than it solved.

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

My recollection of parking at the Goldstone is that is was very easy. You had loads of on-street, free parking within a 15-minute walk (close by football ground standards) and on all sides of the ground. I never had to look too hard for a space, even at 2.30pm. Also people got there by a variety of major roads, so the traffic was split.

I don't want to get dewy-eyed about it because overall the new place is miles better, but on the parking point Falmer will be a lot more difficult.

Goldstone parking was spread all around the ground. North of the Old Shoreham Road, Neville Road / Neville Avenue / Holmes Avenue / dog track / Hove Park / Goldstone Crescent / Shirley Drive all offered hundreds of car parking spaces within a 10 minute walk of the ground. Back in the day there were less people driving anyway and Hove Station provided a much better option for bringing in people by train with three long platforms - one of which was often set aside with a train for visiting fans.

The issue with Falmer is that there is no street parking anywhere to the North, South or East of the ground. Not only will there be home fans looking to park and walk, as Bozza said you will always get away fans looking to see where they can park near the ground. The club will be sending out letters to both home fans and have a leaflet to go out with all away tickets explaining about the transport / parking options but many will choose to ignore the advice.

 

[Biscuit]

How reliant on car parking is Falmer going to be? I was under the impression most people were encouraged to get there via the station?

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Is there going to be a special Away fans P&R?

 

[Bozza]

How reliant on car parking is Falmer going to be? I was under the impression most people were encouraged to get there via the station?

Encouraged - yes, for sure. But for many folk, the other transport options will not be first choice for many reasons. And for those who do use train and bus options, I reckon you can expect the rush to get the earlier services away from the stadium on a Saturday to begin at 4:30 if not before.

If you have young kids, the 'hang about after the game and enjoy the facilities' will not hold any appeal - you'll want to get them home.

(Just to reiterate I'm not moaning - it is what it is and, like most, I'm massively excited about the Amex and all it represents. But I do think transport is going to be a massive challenge - and yes, it will settle with time.)

 

[Alex Alex Dawson oo! oo!]

An excellent point.

I suppose the concern is that its fairly busy there with the usual traffic flow and this is obviously only going to add to it. But there shouldn't be a significant number of additional cars heading directly for the stadium and that B2123 junction, because as you say, there's nowhere there for them to park anyway.

Where I can see some snarl-ups is if the P&R is oversubscribed, people will be making a beeline for Coldean and Moulsecombe to park up and be within a reasonable walking distance, which is a method that had already crossed my mind to try out.

Mill Road P&R is already oversubscribed with a Withdean crowd of 7,000-8,000, anyone redirecting from there to the Race Hill P&R will likely go via the A27/B2123 intersection. Bozza's comment about away fans seems a fair point too.
The stadium planning consent requires the setting up and policing of controlled street parking zones as another poster has indicated is being planned for Moulsecombe. I don't know about Coldean but wouldn't be surprised to see the same there.

 

[Gwylan]

My recollection of parking at the Goldstone is that is was very easy. You had loads of on-street, free parking within a 15-minute walk (close by football ground standards).

I'd agree about 15 minutes but I don't recall ever getting closer than that (although I admit we were coming from the east so don't know about the other side of Hove Park).

But there's also plenty of parking within 15 minutes of the Amex. Lots of spaces in Moulsecoomb and Coldean - not as many as in the Goldstone I grant you but the public transport is going to much, much better.

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

How reliant on car parking is Falmer going to be? I was under the impression most people were encouraged to get there via the station?

Not really - trains are currently only planned to run every 15 minutes to Brighton and Lewes. Club seem to be really pinning their hopes on P&R and the buses into Brighton. Many people travelling by train (including all away fans) will not have direct service to Falmer. If you don't live near a station then train is either not an option or you would park/train. Realistically, if you already have to drive your car to the station, would you not just stay in the car and drive to the ground?

 

[Gwylan]

The stadium planning consent requires the setting up and policing of controlled street parking zones as another poster has indicated is being planned for Moulsecombe. I don't know about Coldean but wouldn't be surprised to see the same there.

There are no plans for any metering in Coldean or Moulsecoomb. Tooting Gull didn't say it was planned, he said what would happen if it was. Parking zones are only implemented when there's a vote for them and I can't anyone voting for them around us as there are not loads of visitors using their spaces.

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

Lots of spaces in Moulsecoomb and Coldean - not as many as in the Goldstone I grant you but the public transport is going to much, much better.

As I posted earlier - parking in Moulescoombe is not going to be an option. At the moment, I've not seen any plan for Coldean but if Moulescoombe residents have been given a parking scheme you can bet the Coldean residents will soon be asking for the same (understandably). My understanding is that Moulescoombe will have very strict parking controls managed and monitored by the club and B&H Council. If this doesn't work then they will go for a formal traffic order which will put in formal parking restrictions for residents only to coincide with events at the stadium.

 

[Easy 10]

I think you under-estimate the away fans factor. Nomatter what they are told in advance, a lot will drive. And for most football fans that will mean...

1. Set sat nav for the destination stadium.
2. Blindly follow sat nav until very close to the stadium.
3. Try and park, possibly having reached the stadium and started to head away again.

Then we need signs giving plenty of warning on approach. As it happens, they've just recently installed some brand new signs on the A23 and A27 (not yet in use) which can display variable messages. All that is needed on matchdays for away fans or those "ignorant" of the restrictions is for them to be set on matchdays to state something along the lines of:

"RESTRICTED PARKING AT AMEX STADIUM. TAKE A27 (W) / A27 (E) AND FOLLOW SIGNS TO PARK & RIDE"

That should deter most from attempting it. Or it could be changed to NO PARKING AT AMEX if necessary.