Legal bid threat in match day travel row
AN angry Swansea councillor has threatened legal action against Liberty Stadium operator StadCo in an escalating row over match day transport and parking.
Landore councillor Rob Speht claimed travel plans drafted in 2005 to deal with Swansea City and Ospreys fans arriving at and leaving the stadium had largely been ignored, leaving roads in his ward choc-a-block during home fixtures.
He said his phone was regularly bombarded by fed-up residents of Hafod, Landore and Plasmarl, complaining about illegally parked supporters' cars.
He has lodged two complaints with Swansea Council, but alleged they had been poorly dealt with — a claim rejected by the authority.
Feelings have run so high Councillor Speht has threatened to apply to the High Court for an injunction to prevent StadCo — the company set up by the council to manage the day-to-day running of the stadium — from trading until a new transport plan was implemented. He wants the matter discussed at the area one planning committee meeting on August 18.
"Over the past five years, the promises made on the original travel plan have been watered down," he said.
The 2005 StadCo travel plan mentions a raft of arrangements for coping with match day fans, including park and ride buses travelling to and from County Hall and the Rec, near St Helen's Rugby and Cricket Ground.
Councillor Speht said many of the arrangements had been ditched, which StadCo disputes.
He said: "This is not about councillor Rob Speht. This is about 10,000 people in my ward who have to put up with up to 6,000 extra cars on match days."
Some drivers park in privately run car parks which operate near the stadium on match days, while many others seem unwilling to pay for the "park and walk" site opposite the ground, as it is rarely full.
According to StadCo, the Swansea Vale park and ride, near junction 45 of the M4, is used for the vast majority of the Swans home fixtures, and for high-profile Ospreys matches.
Council Leader Chris Holley said the 2005 stadium travel plan, which was managed by StadCo, was still valid. "We are in the process of reviewing the effectiveness of the current travel plan with StadCo," he said.
"We have also taken control of parking enforcement since the plan was developed. Our teams patrol the areas near the stadium during events to ensure motorists park legally."
A spokeswoman for StadCo confirmed it was in discussions with the council regarding the potential need for development of the original travel plan.
Resident Ken Anderson said parking was a nightmare on match days. "Last season we were given a mobile phone number for traffic wardens, but on Saturdays it's switched off," said Mr Anderson, of Forbes Street, Landore.
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by James Sheridan, Swansea
Tuesday, August 11 2009, 2:34PM
“Re:stephen o'sullivan, Felixstowe
A "....multi storey cat park...."!? Is this because moggies numbers are increasing ....or is this structure so they go 'meeeeow' when travelling fast to the top storey!?”
by stephen o'sullivan, Felixstowe
Tuesday, August 11 2009, 12:41PM
“Why not build a multi storey cat park at the stadium?
Open Landore and cockets stations.
The Motorists pay their road tax. They are entiltled to park (Legally) on the public highway. Householders DO NOT OWN THE STREET OUTSIDE THEIR HOUSES.
Of course they never use their cars to go anywhere and never park outside other peoples houses.”
by pete, swansea
Tuesday, August 11 2009, 12:33PM
“£5 to park for a couple of hours is too expensive.”
by Richard, Swansea
Tuesday, August 11 2009, 9:26AM
“I would personally never leave my car in a carpark inhabited by travellers. Sort the travellers out, or forget it.
If supporters are parked legally then they have every right to be there. That said, I understand the problems this causes for residents and to say it's only every couple of weeks is idiotic; it's every week (football and rugby alternating) and probably very annoying.
Anybody parking illegally should be clamped though, it's their own fault and I have no sympathy at all with that.
As someone else said though, I can't understand why the park+ride is £5, no wonder people don't use it!”
by Jonsey, Swansea
Tuesday, August 11 2009, 8:56AM
“I thought that the bus schemes that used to run from the County Hall were stopped because of lack of use by fans. The Park & Ride site and Swansea Vale is open on match days (when the gypsies allow), but hardly used.
You cant make supporters park where they dont want to. The traffic wardens are around to make sure that they park where they are supposed to.”
by Duderino, Liberty
Tuesday, August 11 2009, 8:55AM
“I can't understand how the council can charge only £2 to park and ride from Landore to Swansea; but then charge £5 to park and walk to the stadium.
I guess the extra £3 is for the luxury of not having to use the buses and to help maintance costs of the gravel car park.”
by slumdog trust millionaire, margam
Tuesday, August 11 2009, 8:40AM
“i often read on the trust site planet swans that the majority of them park around the residential areas near the liberty. i even recall that the trust chairman was involved in an incident where he had his car damaged after parking in a residential street in Landore.
the comment made that its only for 3 hours once a fortnight is a rather tame one im afraid. people in landore work all week, go shopping on a saturday morning, only to return home fully laden, to find that ignorant swansea city and neath osprey fans are parked outside their home.
illegal parking by swans fans is also a threat to public safety, with access to fire hydrants being a common theme on matchday.
its time to clamp and tow these thugs away!”
by James Sheridan, Swansea
Monday, August 10 2009, 9:50PM
“It should be pointed out to the Evening Post Editorial staff, that the small photograph that appeared with the above article in the newspaper earlier today was not Councillor Rob Speht, but Councillor Peter May! Tut, tut, Evening Post!
Parking in the area surrounding the Liberty is an issue on Match days, whether the Swans or the Ospreys are playing! Any travel plans agreements should be adhered to by those who are Party to that agreement, including Stadco, so that there is minimal distruption to Residents in the area.
Most Swans are not associated with anti social behaviour, it is a minority who cause trouble and these are not true fans, as they run the risk of the Clubs being fined (or worse).”
by anon, swansea
Monday, August 10 2009, 9:47PM
“why don't this councillor get landore railway station opened up again then people can jump on the train to the liberty”
by ian, swansea
Monday, August 10 2009, 9:45PM
“now the bendy buses are running they might tempt more supporters to leave their cars at home because of the quicker straight through route.”