The case for a taxi pick up & drop off point on match days at the London Stadium
Presentation from Hammers United to Safety Advisory Group (SAG) Match Day Operations Sub Committee – January 11th 2022
Hammers United
- Founded in March 2019, Hammers United is an independent inclusive West Ham United supporters group, united in improving things for all West Ham United supporters.
- We foster a truly democratic and representative approach to our policies and actions, always from the grassroots up. Our leadership team will always consult and empower our members before agreeing any policies or actions on their behalf.
- Our membership is currently 18,404.
- We have a democratically elected chair and two secretaries in our committee of 12, all of whom are volunteers.
- We are a proud founder of the West Ham United Independent Supporters Committee (ISC).
Accessibility to the London Stadium
- In line with Hammers United values, we believe passionately in accessibility and inclusion.
- We have been approached by many of our members about getting to the stadium on match days by taxi.
- These members are from a variety of backgrounds, but all of them would like to be able to take a taxi to the ground, given the distance from Stratford and Stratford station, especially for those accessing entrances A-E.
- There is a regular shuttle bus service on matchdays from Stratford station to the London Stadium, but that is for disabled badge holders (and potentially their helper) only and requires those supporters to get to Stratford station in the first place.
- Currently there is no access for taxis to the stadium on match days.
- We would like taxis to be able to drop West Ham supporters near to the London Stadium before the match and to be able to pick them up after the match. Nothing more-nothing less.
- We would like to explore options to solve this problem.
How can taxis get access to the London Stadium?
- Over the last 7 months, Hammers United have reached out to a number of stakeholders to explore the options for a taxi rank close to the London Stadium on match days.
- These stakeholders include West Ham Utd, London Taxi Drivers Association, LLDC, London Borough of Newham Highways and Lyn Brown MP for West Ham.
- Hammers United have physically reccied the potential sites for a taxi rank in July 2021.
- We have identified a potential location for a taxi rank adjacent to the café and club shop – Fiding Street.
- The road to the directors’ entrance could also be a possibility.
- We understand that roads around the London Stadium need to be closed to all access before kick off and after the match ends and would expect supporters arriving by taxi to understand this and plan accordingly. There is plenty of pre-match hospitality available in the Stadium for supporters to enjoy.
What do other London football clubs do?
- Spurs have 73 blue badge bays beneath their stadium plus 30 bays in Northumberland park Sainsburys dedicated for THFC blue badge holders. Also, blue badge holders can park in CPZ bays around the ground. Given it’s possible to drive (and park) very close to the stadium drop off/pick up is obviously far easier than at Stratford.
- Arsenal have 100 blue badge spaces and a suggested drop off point for taxis 50m from the media entrance to the Arsenal Stadium which is clearly detailed on their website.
- Chelsea have 9 blue badge spaces, but do have a designated drop off point marshalled by stewards by the main entrance at Stamford Gate which again is clearly detailed on their website.
- West Ham United seem to offer 49 blue badge disabled parking spaces and there is no option to drop off and collect supporters, disabled or otherwise before and after matches.
Conclusions
- Arsenal & Spurs have more than twice the blue badge parking available in the first instance and have formal arrangements for drop off pick up close to their stadiums which are clearly detailed on their websites (as do Chelsea). There is the ability for blue badge holders to park on streets within CPZ’s in close proximity to the stadiums.
- At West Ham it’s not viable at all really for anyone with impaired mobility to park in Newham CPZ’s as they are too far away from the London Stadium.
- Also, the other London clubs all have larger amounts of blue badge parking available at or very close to their stadia and are more open with respect to drop off/pick up arrangements for the mobility impaired.
- It should be possible for a taxis to pick up and drop off supporters close to the London Stadium.
Next steps
- Who are the key decision makers who can progress this proposal?
- What are the considerations that would be needed to overcome in order to deliver a taxi rank close to the London Stadium?
- How can Hammers United progress the project?
- What are the timelines?
- Can we make this a reality in time for next season?
