New stadium would solve parking issues, says Stratford Town FC chairman
SOLVING concerns about problem parking close to Stratford Town Football Club on match days is now a “priority” – according to a Warwickshire County Councillor.
County Councillor, Kate Rolfe (Lib Dem, Stratford South) whose ward includes Tiddington, told the Herald she had received a number of complaints from locals who were fed-up with cars parked on or around the Knights Lane/Townsend Road junction just a short distance from the Arden Garages Stadium home to Stratford Town FC.
“As ward member I’ve asked the police to make the parking issue a priority,” Cllr Rolfe said. “On match days vehicles park right up to or on the junction and it really is quite dangerous because residents can’t see as they go in and out of Townsend Road. It is a visibility problem and it’s breaking the Highway Code. I was contacted by concerned residents and I asked the police to check this out on match days and give drivers a warning if they had caused a parking problem.”
Councillor Rolfe added that she had been getting a lot of complaints from residents about cars being parked on around Townsend Road and on pavements near the ground so she made the parking issue one of her five councillor priorities during a meeting with police. It’s understood police did visit the area last Saturday to assess the parking situation.
Stratford Town chairman, Jed McCrory, said:
“The club was close to going out of business when I took it over five years ago and at that point I made it clear to the council and the local ward councillor of the intentions I had to take this club forward.
I have apologised on numerous occasions to the residents of Tiddington and we do everything we possibly can to try and help but we are still looking for the best solution which is a new stadium.
I’m disappointed that Cllr Rolfe, the mayor of Stratford, hasn’t been to the football club to see us after I have been to see her on numerous occasions to try and resolve the issues. However, I don’t want to hinder the growth of Stratford Town having given councillors a five-year warning of what would happen.
We are delighted that we are getting crowds of between 800 and 1,200 at the club and this is partly due to us giving out tickets to the community including to those working in the health and blue light services and to schools around the district. I’m delighted that people feel comfortable bringing their families to the football club.
We are also bringing extra people into the town who use Stratford’s pubs and shops and if we win promotion, we are expecting double these crowds. That is the aim for Stratford Town, whether it is this year or in the next few years.
Away from match days, we give free parking to the parents of the local school so that when they drop off or collect their children, they are not blocking the road and the children can come and go in safety.”
L ROADWORKS are due to start on Knights Lane, Tiddington, from Monday 15th April to Friday 23rd August during which time the road will be widened and a pathway installed.
