Following the controversial use of Fryent Country Park for car parking during the Ed Sheeran concert weekend recently, sharp eyed Philip Grant has spotted this notice in the Brent and Kilburn Times.
Philip commented:
One of the big events coming up at Wembley Stadium is the Women's EUROs football final at Wembley Stadium on 31 July. Will Fryent Country Park, or Fryent Way itself, be used as a car / coach park for that event?
Did anyone else see Brent's notice of a temporary prohibition of traffic, in the Legal Notices section on page 21 of last Thursday's "Brent and Kilburn Times"?
In order 'to facilitate a sports procession' (people having to walk from Fryent Way to the Stadium?), Brent proposes to close the following roads to traffic on 31 July:
'Fryent Way (between Broadview and The Paddocks)
The Paddocks (between Fryent Way and Forty Lane)
Forty Lane (between The Paddocks and Bridge Road)
Bridge Road (between Forty Lane and Brook Avenue)
Brook Avenue (between Bridge Road and Olympic Way)'
There is precedent for closing Fryent Way so that it could be used as a coach park for an international football match LINK. So far Brent Council has not explained why Fryent Country Park was used as a car park recently and fears have been voiced that this set a precedent for similar future action. The action was particularly controversial because it was on the weekend of RMT strikes and appeared to seek to undermine the effectiveness of the action.
I will ask Brent Council for an explanation.
FOR INFORMATION:
ReplyDeleteAny readers interested in, or affected by, these road closures may like to know the legal basis for the order that Brent will be making.
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984
'Section 16A - Prohibition or restriction on roads in connection with certain events.
(1) In this section “ relevant event ” means any sporting event, social event or entertainment which is held on a road.
(2) If the traffic authority for a road are satisfied that traffic on the road should be restricted or prohibited for the purpose of—
(a) facilitating the holding of a relevant event,
(b) enabling members of the public to watch a relevant event, or
(c) reducing the disruption to traffic likely to be caused by a relevant event,the authority may by order restrict or prohibit temporarily the use of that road, or any part of it, by vehicles or vehicles of any class or by pedestrians, to such extent and subject to such conditions or exceptions as they may consider necessary or expedient.
(3) Before making an order under this section the authority shall satisfy themselves that it is not reasonably practicable for the event to be held otherwise than on a road.'
Other parts of Section 16A which may be of interest are:
'(8) When considering the making of an order under this section, an authority shall have regard to the safety and convenience of alternative routes suitable for the traffic which will be affected by the order.
(9) ... no such order shall be made with respect to any road which would have the effect of preventing at any time access for pedestrians to any premises situated on or adjacent to the road, or to any other premises accessible for pedestrians from, and only from, the road.'
Residents of The Paddocks etc. will therefore be delighted to know that they can walk to and from their homes on 31 July!