Upcoming events - note number of bus diversions and timing of road closures
This summer has been marked by an extraordinary number of concerts at Wembley Stadium following the decision of Brent Council to allow more sporting events at the stadium. A concert even supplanted a major football match earlier this month.
Since June, until today, there have been 30 concert days.
The disruption of road closures, bus diversions and route curtailments has hit the newer residents of Wembley Park as much as the longer term residents of the wider Wembley area.
Now Wembley Park Residents Association is taking up the matter with a letter to the appropriate authorities setting out the issues and potential mitigations shared in their community which they think may be of interest to the wider Wembley community.:
If you would like to sign the letter write to: Wembley Park Residents Association Committee Email: wembleypark.ra@gmail.com with your name, road or area (optional) and the date. Respond by 5pm on Monday September 7th.
In addition to transport, Event Days also impinge on Wembley Park residents in another way impacting on mobile phone signals and WiFi connections that plummet, making it difficult to communicate with friends and family
Open
Letter from Wembley Residents
Request
for a Review of Event-Day Transport Arrangements and Their Impact on Local
Residents
Dear
Sir/Madam,
We, the
undersigned residents of Wembley, are writing to express our growing concern
regarding the increasing disruption caused by event-day road closures and bus
diversions associated with Wembley Stadium and the surrounding entertainment
venues.
We are
proud to live in an area that hosts world-renowned sporting, cultural and
entertainment events, and we recognise the importance these events bring to the
local economy and London's international reputation. We also appreciate that
public safety must remain the highest priority when managing large crowds.
However, as
the number and frequency of events continue to increase—particularly on
weekdays—the impact on the daily lives of residents has become increasingly
difficult to manage.
For many of
us, these disruptions are no longer occasional inconveniences but have become a
regular part of everyday life. Public transport is our primary means of
travelling to and from work, attending medical appointments, taking children to
and from school or childcare, caring for relatives, shopping for essential
groceries, and accessing local services. On event days, bus services are
frequently diverted or suspended for extended periods, resulting in
significantly longer journeys, uncertainty, and lengthy walks to temporary bus
stops.
The effects
extend beyond commuting. Friends and family are often discouraged from visiting
because parking restrictions are extensive and public transport journeys become
considerably longer during events. This has a direct impact on residents'
social and family lives. Working parents frequently experience delays
collecting children from childcare after work, whilst older residents and those
with disabilities or reduced mobility face additional barriers to accessing
healthcare and other essential services.
As
residents, we contribute to our community through council tax and support local
businesses throughout the year. Whilst we accept that some disruption is
unavoidable, we believe residents should also have a reasonable expectation of
being able to travel, work and enjoy family life with minimal disruption.
Wembley is
no longer simply an events destination—it is home to a large and growing
residential community. We believe that transport planning should reflect both
of these important roles equally.
Immediate
Improvements
We
respectfully ask Brent Council, Transport for London and Wembley Stadium to
review the current arrangements and consider practical measures that could
significantly reduce disruption while maintaining public safety, including:
- Maintaining at least one
dedicated bus corridor during event days wherever it is safe to do so.
- Limiting road closures to
the shortest period operationally necessary before and after events.
- Introducing resident
shuttle buses connecting residential areas with Wembley Park, Wembley
Central and other key transport hubs.
- Improving advance communication
regarding road closures, bus diversions and alternative travel
arrangements.
- Considering the impact of
weekday events on commuters, school collections, healthcare appointments
and other essential journeys.
- Regularly reviewing
diversion routes to ensure they minimise disruption to residents while
maintaining effective crowd management.
Long-Term
Strategic Solutions
As Wembley
continues to expand as both a residential neighbourhood and an international
events destination, we believe it is timely to undertake a comprehensive review
of the area's transport infrastructure.
We ask
Brent Council, Transport for London and relevant partners to explore long-term
solutions that better separate event-related traffic from residential traffic.
Options for consideration could include:
- Assessing the feasibility
of a dedicated access route, flyover or highway connection between Wembley
Stadium and the A406 North Circular Road, allowing event traffic and
coaches to access the stadium without travelling through residential
streets.
- Reviewing the surrounding
road network to identify opportunities to reduce the volume of event
traffic using local roads.
- Improving traffic
management systems and navigation routing so that event traffic is
directed via appropriate strategic routes rather than residential streets
wherever possible.
- Ensuring
that future regeneration and transport planning gives equal consideration
to the needs of Wembley residents alongside those of the stadium and
entertainment venues.
We
recognise that these options would require detailed technical studies,
consultation and investment. However, with Wembley continuing to grow, now is
the appropriate time to begin planning transport infrastructure that is fit for
both its residents and its role as an international events destination.
Our
Request
We
respectfully request that Brent Council, Transport for London and Wembley
Stadium:
- Undertake a comprehensive
review of event-day transport arrangements.
- Consult with local
residents on the impact of current road closures and bus diversions.
- Publish the findings of
that review together with proposed improvements.
- Develop both short-term
operational changes and a long-term transport strategy that better
balances the needs of residents with those of major events.
We firmly
believe it is possible to maintain Wembley as one of the world's leading
sporting and entertainment destinations whilst also ensuring that those who
call Wembley home are able to live, work and travel with minimal disruption.
We
appreciate your consideration of these concerns and look forward to your
response.
