All aboard the Lioness and Mildmay overground lines from Willesden Junction

 

 

TfL will complete the renaming of the London Overground lines by the end of the year. LINK There have been criticisms that this will involve unnecessary expense. TfL justify the changes thus:

London Overground was created in 2007, when TfL took over a series of under-used suburban rail lines and transformed them into a high frequency metro-style service.

Since then, the network has expanded, improved connectivity for millions of people and supported new jobs, homes and economic growth.

The Overground network covers 100 miles of railway, 113 stations and all 9 London zones.

Now there are more than 3 million passengers using the service each week, connecting some of London's most historic and diverse neighbourhoods.

Giving each of the 6 London Overground routes an individual line colour lets us improve the way our customers experience our network. It also gives them their own name and identity.

Benefits

 

Specific improvements will include:

• Increased usability and understanding of the network
• Greater customer confidence  
• Clearer wayfinding
• Clearer service disruption information 

 

It also brings a positive and unique opportunity to engage customers and communities and showcase London's rich diversity.

Two Overground lines serve Brent and pss through Willesden Junction. TfL explain why they have chosen the names.

The Lioness line Watford Junction to Euston

 

The Euston to Watford Junction line runs straight through the heart of Wembley, where the Lionesses enjoyed their greatest triumph when they won the UEFA Women’s EURO final in 2022. The team are creating a lasting legacy that continues to inspire and empower the next generation of women and girls in sport. 

 

Following their triumph at the UEFA Women’s EURO in 2022 and their memorable run to the FIFA Women’s World Cup final a year later, the Lionesses’ success has attracted millions of fans and had a significant impact on the sport’s participation numbers. Following the EURO success, 2.3 million more women and girls were inspired to play the season after the tournament. Showing the remarkable impact the squad have on the next generation. 

 

The Mildmay line  Richmond and Clapham Junction to Stratford (via Willesden Junction)

The name celebrates Mildmay, a small but crucial charitable NHS hospital serving the NHS in Tower Hamlets, with a long history of helping Londoners in need. Mildmay opened in the 1860s as an informal help centre organised by the Reverend William Pennefather and his wife Catherine at St Jude and St Paul’s church in Islington. William organised Mildmay Institutions to care for the sick and Catherine trained well-educated young women – ‘deaconesses’ in nursing. When cholera broke out in 1866, two Mildmay deaconesses volunteered to assist in the East End’s poorest slums, an area strictly avoided by other Londoners. In 1892, the first purpose-built Mildmay Hospital opened in Shoreditch. 

In 1982, Mildmay was closed owing to its small size and a lack of funding. After a six-year battle, it reopened as Europe’s first hospital for people with HIV- and AIDS-related illnesses. It was visited by Princess Diana a total of 17 times. The press coverage of some of these visits helped break the stigma at the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis. The name cherishes the role of the NHS and its smaller healthcare centres in caring for all Londoners. To this day, Mildmay is still an internationally renowned centre for the rehabilitation of and care for patients with complex HIV. It a valued and respected place for London’s LGBTQ+ communities.

 The new Overground Map

 

Do you use the 224 bus? TfL is consulting on the section of the route between St Raph's and Alperton. You may miss the bus! Deadline December 6th 2024

 

From Transport for London

Tell us your views

 CONSULTATION PAGE

We are holding an eight-week public consultation to hear what you think about these proposals. We want to know if you agree with them, if there is anything you do not agree with, and to understand the reasons why you feel this way.

You can reply by completing our survey, which should take no more than 10 minutes to complete. The closing date for comments is Friday 6 December 2024. 

To take part in our online survey you will need to register with your email address. Your details will be kept secure.

If you prefer, you can also let us have your comments by:
 

• Email: haveyoursay@tfl.gov.uk
• Telephone: 020 3054 6037 to leave your name and contact number and we will call you back. Please quote 'Route 224' when leaving your message
• Write to: FREEPOST TFL HAVE YOUR SAY (Route 224) no postage stamp required 

Please note responses to the survey may be made publicly available after the consultation has closed, this would typically be in the form of a report on the results of the consultation exercise, but any personal information will be kept confidential. 

Your personal information will be properly safeguarded and processed in accordance with the requirements of privacy and data protection legislation. For further information, please visit our privacy policy. 

• The route would no long serve Abbey Road between Coronation Road and Twyford Abbey Road. Stops on this part of the route would still be served by route 440.
• The route would also not serve Whitby Avenue and Rainsford Road. These roads would not have a bus service. The closest bus stops would be on Twyford Abbey Road. The walk to these bus stops from the existing bus stops is approximately 240 metres
• The route would also not serve Iveagh Avenue. The nearest stops would be on Twyford Abbey Road. The walk to the new bus stop is 220 metres from the existing bus stop
• Passengers wishing to access ASDA heading towards Alperton would use the same stop as now on Coronation Road. Passengers heading towards St Raphael’s would use the stop on the other side of Coronation Road from ASDA near the junction with Western Road, which is about 200 metres away from the main entrance
• Passengers who get on and off of the 224 on Abbey Road could use route 440 from the same stop and change on to the 224 later in the journey, or walk to the new bus stops just over 400 metres away
• Re-routeing the 224 would open the bus network up to over 2,000 more people and 4,000 jobs in the area
• Passengers would also benefit from a simpler route to understand

There would also be an increase in buses along Coronation Road, Lakeside Drive, Bodiam Way and Twyford Abbey Road

BREAKING: Wembley High Road reconstruction works delayed until January 2025

 

The controversial works that would have closed part of Wembley High Road from mid-October have been delayed until January 2025.

This is because TfL requested sufficient time to organise diversions and mitigations for the many bus routes affected by the closure. Brent Council also took into account loss of trade for local shopkeepers over the Christmas and Diwali festivals.

There will be full closure of the part of Wembley High Road and Wembley Triangle marked in red above. The works are expected to take 16 weeks and start on January 6th 2025.

Brent Council will place further details on its website.

The works will be complicated by the construction taking place at the Ujima House and Fairgate House sites, the green section of the High Road on the map above. How will construction lorries turn at what will now be a dead end?  Works are also getting underway on the Copland/Cecil Avenue site.

Although we can assume that the 83 and 182 buses will be able to divert along Park Lane it is unclear what will happen with the 18 route. This route between Harlesden and Wembley is much used by school pupils.

UPDATE, WEMBLEY EXTRA EVENTS APPLICATION APPROVED Quintain's comments on extra major stadium events application and officers' conclusion on the application to be decided tonight

UPDATE

BRENT PLANNING COMMITTEE APPROVED THE EXTRA EVENTS APPLICATION WITH JUST ONE VOTE AGAINST. MINUTES WILL GO TO PLANNING COMMITTEE BECAUSE OF WIDER ISSUES RAISED.

The application by Wembley National Stadium Ltd (WNSL) for additional major events at the stadium will be heard at 6pm tonight. The officer's report to the Planning Committee can be read HERE. The public can attend the meeting in person at the Civic Centre or watch online HERE.

While the full report can be read on the link above I print below two significant extracts. Quintain Ltd is the owner of  some land within the planning application area and their developments around the stadium now has a large number of residents, many of whom have become restive over the impact of Wembley events on their lives:

 

QUINTAIN COMMENTS 

 

The proposal is supported subject to the following conditions:

 

From reviewing the representations submitted by local residents, it is clear that event day management, and in particular stewarding and post-event cleaning, are areas of significant concern. Therefore, WNSL should commit to paying all the operational and management costs associated with the additional events and/or any event that exceeds the existing caps of 22 sporting events and 24 non -sporting events in a calendar year.

 

WNSL have highlighted the success of the triparty ‘Best in Class’ initiative between WNSL, Quintain and Brent, which currently manages the impacts of event days upon the local area and state this will be implemented for the additional events. Whilst we agree that the ‘Best in Class’ principles covering stewarding, parking enforcement, traffic management, toilets and street cleaning should apply to the additional events, the increased costs associated with delivering these should be borne wholly by WNSL.

 

To ensure residents’ amenity is adequately protected, WNSL should commit to the following restrictions on events: a cap on the maximum number of consecutive non -sporting events; a cap on the maximum number of non-sporting events per week; and a cap on the maximum number of weeks in any calendar year where the maximum number of consecutive non -sporting events or maximum number of non-sporting events in a week can be held.

 

The above conditions should be included in the s.106 Agreement (Deed of Variation).

 

Should they not be secured, Quintain reserve the right to make further representations. As a participant in the Best in Class initiative, and owner of land within the planning application boundary where many of these measures will take place, Quintain would expect to be consulted on the Deed of Variation before it is completed

 

We would also request that WNSL, TfL and Brent work closely on mitigating the impact Stadium events have upon existing bus routes and services to ensure residents are able to carry on their daily lives and move around the area on event days with the minimum of disruption.

 

 

THE OFFICER REPORT CONCLUSIONS (original report paragraph numbers)

 

 

144. The objections received indicate that there is a level of impact currently experienced by local residents as a result of events at the Stadium, with concerns predominantly focussed on anti-social behaviour, transport issues, air quality and noise. Some impacts are to be expected, given the size of the Stadium and its siting in a location surrounded by residential properties and businesses, within a dense urban area, although it must be remembered that a Stadium has been in situ for over 100 years.

 

145. The original cap on events was imposed to manage the impacts until such time as specific transport improvements had been made. Whilst most of these have taken place, not all of them have been realised. Circumstances have changed since the original planning permission in 2002, which suggest that the final piece of transport infrastructure (i.e., the Stadium Access Corridor) will not be provided in its originally envisaged form, but other changes to the road network have now taken place. Therefore, the Council considers that the cap remains relevant.

 

146. Clearly, to increase the number of higher capacity events to accommodate up to 8 additional major non-sporting events per calendar year would imply an increase in the impact. However, a wide range of mitigation measures have previously been secured and would continue to do so to help mitigate these impacts. There are ongoing efforts to reduce the number of vehicles on an event day, including additional parking enforcement capacity and an updated Spectator Travel Plan to promote sustainable travel patterns. WNSL and public transport operators work closely to promote sustainable transport solutions and maximise the efficiency of the network. This in turn contributes to reducing noise and air quality issues.

 

147. Infrastructure works including two-way working in the area to the east of the Stadium and the opening of a link between the western end of North End Road and Bridge Road to provide an east-west route past the Stadium that is capable of being kept open at all times before and after Stadium events has improved traffic flow in the area and assist residents’ movements on event days.

 

148. The Trusted Parking Scheme aims to ensure authorised car parks are responsibly run in a way that would limit their impact on neighbouring residents and reduce local congestion, whilst the Private Hire Management Scheme would reduce the number of vehicles in the area around the Stadium after events have finished.

 

149. Employment and Training benefits for Brent residents would also be secured by the proposed scheme.

 

150. With regard to antisocial behaviour, a financial contribution would be paid by the Stadium to Brent Council per additional major non-sporting event. This would go towards mitigation measures as agreed between WNSL and the Council which may cover measures to address anti-social behaviour.

 

151. Whilst it is appreciated that local residents face challenges on event days, the direct economic benefits for the local Brent economy of Stadium events are also recognised, including spending on accommodation, food, drink and other ancillary items within the Wembley area. The uplift in the event cap would also create additional event day steward and catering positions. Whilst some types of business would suffer on event days, many would benefit from the influx of people to the area.

 

152. In summary, it is recognised that there is a level of impact associated with major events now, and that this would increase with an increase in the number of high capacity major events. However, the measures proposed would ensure that this is moderated as much as is reasonably achievable. All are considered necessary to mitigate the increased number of major events which this application proposes.

 

153. A further consideration is that the Stadium can already be used for events up to 51,000 without restriction. Existing mitigation measures would be extended to cover this increase. Measures including the training and employment opportunities would apply more broadly to Stadium events, not just the additional major non-sporting events for which permission is sought under this application and would therefore provide wider benefits to local people and the local economy more generally.

 

154. The proposal is considered to accord with the development plan, having regard to material planning considerations. While there will inevitably be some additional impacts associated with an increase in the number of higher capacity non-sporting events, a range of mitigation measures are proposed and some benefits are also anticipated. The proposal is, on balance, recommended for approval.

 

Reading the report, although TfL mention the rail and tube routes they pay little attention to bus routes and their diversion and curtailment that impacts on residents.

Despite several protests over the curtailment of the 206 bus at Brent Park, affecting workers travelling to the industrial estates south of the stadium and school pupils when events are held on weekdays, no proposals are contained enabling the route to use the North End Road link.

Update with Brent Council comment. Grappling with the Lime Bikes parking problem. What can Brent do?

 

If these lime bikes were blocking MP’s from getting into parliament you’d be taking immediate action @UKLabour @LondonLabour @leicesterliz @stephenctimms @DisabilityGovUK

Discrimination against disabled people. Get it sorted#DisabledPeopleDemandpic.twitter.com/qf1zrLLgST

— DPAC (@Dis_PPL_Protest) July 27, 2024

 

Riders appear to have taken the trouble not to block the pavement

Entrance to Cadent gas station blocked on Birchen Grove

 

At Willesden Green parking shifts between the station and the next corner

Outside St Andrew's Church, Kingsbury

Lime bikes takeover of Wembley Park stands normally used by other cyclists

Local social media has seen increasing numbers of posts about Lime Bikes that have become more frequent as youngster have learnt how to hack the system to have a free ride. 

The problem is not so much on the bike riding itself, though cycling on the pavement is alarming to many, as what happens to the bike when the rider has finished with it. Badly parked bikes on pavements are an impediment to the partially sighted, the elderly, disabled and parents with buggies. Sometimes people are forced into the road to avoid the clutter,

A good idea to encourage non-car travel is in danger of becoming a burden rather than an asset.

The Evening Standard has reported the TfL, under pressure from London Councils is considering  limiting the numbers in local areas and requiring designated parking bays. LINK

Unsurprisingly Forest, one of the major providers is opposed to restrictions:

 Forest, which has 10,000 e-bikes in London, believes that placing too many rules on where the bikes can be parked, and on how many can be provided in each borough, will make them less attractive to Londoners.

It wants a “hybrid” approach, with cyclists able to park the bikes in designated bays or responsibly beside the roadside without blocking pavements.

Forest head of policy Alex Berwin said: “Yes, we need dedicated parking bays and mandatory parking, but when you go out to the more suburban areas, having more of a free-floating model works best, so people can have more flexibility around where they want to end their ride - nearer their home, for example.

The London Borough of Lewisham LINK is going to require parking in designated bays and nowhere else in the borough:

Now Lime and Lewisham Council will install 300 bike parking bays across the area. If a Lime bike isn’t parked in a bay users won’t be able to end their journey and will continue to be charged until they stop in a designated area.

There are reports that such arrangements will be on the condition that a council renew their contract with Lime. Secret London report that Other boroughs, including Camden, Westminster, Hackney and Kensington and Chelsea have already enforced rules around dockless e-bikes amid concerns from the public that they were a hazard on pavements

Wembley Matters asked the Brent Cycling Campaign to comment on the issue:

Brent Cycling Campaign supports the London Cycling Campaign belief that the massive increase of dockless e-bikes in London is positive overall and is leading to new audiences and communities cycling in London and triggering mode shift from less sustainable modes."

 

This is quite clear that in places where cycling rate is traditionally low and where there are no Santander Cycles stations, like the North of the borough, the dockless e-bikes seem very popular.

So there is a big unmet demand for cycling.

Brent Cycling Campaign supports the concept of shared mobility and we are regularly suggesting to Brent Council that the solution to poor parking behaviour is in plenty of dedicated bays. The popularity of their use should be celebrated by the Council and a lot of insights  could be harvested to understand better where cycling needs are.

In essence: (my emphasis)

1. We need plenty of clearly designated bays to park the dockless bikes, geofenced them and on the carriage way (not on the pavement).
2. A prompt and strict response by the local authority when the operators are not following through.
3. The need for operators to regularly clearly and regularly communicate to users the dos and don'ts and have strict enforcement rules when users don't respect them.
4. For the operators to keep up with the technology and trend as this is a sector that evolves quickly so they need to adapt promptly.

Poor parking behaviour should be addressed the same way as for any other bad parking behaviour.  We understand Brent Council has commissioned MPSmarter Travel and City Infinity to help with identifying suitable locations for bays which is welcome. Using regular cycle stands to park them (like outside tube or train stations) should be allowed but not taking over every single stand like we have seen recently. Whatever agreement the Council has with the operators, it should be regularly scrutinised and updated to reflect an evolving situation. Dockless bikes operators operate globally and plenty of other cities don't seem to be having the same issues, so there's scope to see what works elsewhere.

Councillor Krupa Sheth, Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, said: 

We are aware of residents' concerns with regards to the parking of Lime Bikes and we are working closely with Lime to strengthen arrangements around where and how their bikes are parked in the borough. This includes identifying suitable locations throughout the borough to install dedicated parking bays for bikes - similar to the ones recently implemented in our green neighbourhood areas; and requiring them to remove any badly parked or abandoned bikes promptly.

 

August Disruption ahead in Wembley: High Road overnight works start on July 29th until August 16th and Bakerloo/Overground closed August 3rd to 8th.

 It has taken a bit of nagging to get Brent Council to issue details of works on Wembley High Road but details were published on their website yesterday:

Wembley High Road is being upgraded and different section will be closed at night during the following times whilst we make improvements to the road.

Works across Wembley High Road are expected from Monday, 29 July to Thursday, 15 August 2024.

The works will be completed in three separate phases:

Phase 1

High Road - Ealing Road to Park Lane – Works will begin at 8pm on Monday, 29 July and will be complete by 5am on Tuesday, 6 August. This will take place at night only (6 Nights). Access to properties in this area will be strictly limited and there will be a signed diversion in place for the duration of the works. Ealing Road, Lancelot Road, St Johns Road and London Road will also be closed at the junction with High Road whilst works are in progress.

Phase 2

High Road - Park Lane to Cecil Avenue – Works will commence at 8pm on Tuesday, 6 August and will be complete by 5am on Monday, 12 August. This will take place at night only (5 Nights). Access to properties in this area will be strictly limited and there will be a signed diversion in place for the duration of the works. Park Lane and Cecil Avenue will be closed at the junction of High Road whilst the works are in progress.

Phase 3

Park Lane – High Road to opposite 1 Park Court – Works will commence at 8pm on Monday, 12 August and will be complete by 5am on Thursday, 15 August. This will take place at night only (3 Nights). Access to properties in this area will be strictly limited and there will be a signed diversion in place for the duration of the works. Elm Road and Dukes way will be closed at the junction of Park Lane whilst the works are in progress. Please note – Taylor Swift returns to Wembley Stadium on Thursday, 15 August so the works will not continue past 5am on Thursday, 15 August so there will be no clash with the Stadium event.

Advanced warning signs have been deployed at key locations.

 

At the same time TfL have issued details of the closure of the Overground and Bakerloobetween Saturday 3rd August and Thursday 8th August.

Closure details

Between Saturday 3 and Thursday 8 August, these sections of line will be closed:

• London Overground: Euston to Watford Junction
• Tube - Bakerloo line: Queen's Park-Harrow & Wealdstone

London Overground stations

During the closure, there will be no London Overground service at these stations: Euston, South Hampstead, Kilburn High Road, Queen's Park, Kensal Green, Harlesden, Stonebridge Park, Wembley Central, North Wembley, South Kenton, Kenton, Harrow & Wealdstone, Headstone Lane, Hatch End, Carpenders Park, Bushey, Watford High Street and Watford Junction

Tube stations

During the closure, there will be no Bakerloo line service at these stations: Kensal Green, Willesden Junction, Harlesden, Stonebridge Park, Wembley Central, North Wembley, South Kenton, Kenton, and Harrow & Wealdstone

Travel advice

• Plan ahead
• Check your travel
• Use our travel tools
• Use buses to reach your destination or connect with alternative rail routes.

Alternative stations

There are connections to alternative Tube and rail lines. Stations with step-free access are indicated.

• Central line - North Acton station
• Metropolitan line: Wembley Park (step-free), Preston Road, Northwick Park and Harrow-on-the Hill (step-free)
• Jubilee line - Wembley Park (step-free) and stations towards central London
• London Overground - Willesden Junction (step-free)
• London Northwestern Railway (West Midlands Trains) - Watford Junction, Bushey, and Harrow & Wealdstone

Bus connections

Additional temporary bus routes 718, 719, and 720 will be available during the closure period:

• Route 718 will run between Queen's Park and Harrow & Wealdstone via Kensal Green, Willesden Junction, Harlesden Town Centre, Stonebridge Park, Wembley Central, North Wembley, Preston Road, Kenton (from first to last train times) 
• Route 719 will run between Queen's Park and Wembley Park (for the Jubilee and Metropolitan lines), via Kensal Green, Willesden Junction, Harlesden Town Centre, Stonebridge Park, Wembley Central (weekdays only, 07:30 to 20:30) 
• Route 720 will run between Watford Junction and Harrow-on-the-Hill (for the Metropolitan line and Chiltern Railways), via Harrow & Wealdstone, Headstone Lane, Hatch End, Carpenders Park, Bushey, Watford High Street (from first to last train times)

All bus services offer step-free access.

Standard TfL bus fares apply. Always touch in using Oyster or contactless, or show a valid ticket when boarding the bus.

 

Comment received after publication:

 If Wembley High Road and main roads off it (Ealing Road, Park Lane etc) are closed from 8pm each evening to allow the resurfacing work to take place then none of the usual bus routes (297, 83, 483, 79, 204, 182, 224, 223, 92) will be able to travel through Wembley High Road and Ealing Road.

So no trains to Wembley Central and no local buses either - Wembley Central and Alperton Residents will be badly affected by this - particularly those travelling to work really early, those working late, the elderly, and those who struggle to walk 😡

Let's hope the Piccadilly Line will be managed properly so that it runs efficiently during this time.

LETTER: We need to complain to London Travelwatch re lack of travel information on event days

 Dear Editor,

Re Wembley Stadium events.

 

We need everyone to complain to Travelwatch, about lack of service, diversions with no signage telling people anything? or where to go and catch the bus, and why they suspend  the service for so long before the event.  

 

Why nothing on TFL website, bus information displays, Wembley Stadium website site - nothing! 

 

Don't even get me started as to why there is no pick up area allocated for all the chauffeurs and ubers blocking the roads - more on that another time.

A Wembley Resident

 

Who are Transport for London and London TravelWatch and what do they do?

TfL is an integrated transport authority responsible for the day-to-day operation of London’s public transport network.  It also manages London’s main roads.

You can contact Transport for London at: https://tfl.gov.uk/help-and-contact/.

London Travelwatch is the official watchdog organisation representing the interests of transport users in and around London.  It is officially known as London Transport Users Committee.  It is independent from the transport operators and deals with complaints about services operated or licenced by TfL.  This includes:

• London Buses
• London Underground
• Docklands Light Railway
• Tramlink
• River boats and ferries
• Santander cycle hire
• Emirates Air Line (cable car river crossing)
• Oyster Card
• Victoria Coach Station
• Dial-a-Ride
• Congestion Charge
• Low Emission Zone

It also deals with main line railway services operated by some National Rail Companies.

You can contact London TravelWatch at www.londontravelwatch.org.uk/

TfL blasted over lack of information and misinformation re Wembley Park bus routes during 3 Days of Taylor Swift concerts

The forecast on Wednesday

 

 

The start of the chaos on Friday morning

 

I was crushed by happy, smiling and excited 'Swifties' on the packed Metropolitan line yesterday but the mood amongst Wembley Park residents  was rather different.

It started off early morning when the 206 route from The Paddocks to Kilburn Park was stopped before 9am affecting people from the area travelling to work, school or shopping.

TfL via Twitter denied all knowledge of the curtailment and suggested residents rang their customer service, depite the fact they are a customer service. Instead they devoted themselves to publicising their Swiftie alternative tube map. Whimsy is no substitute for a public bus service!

The TfL website failed to inform passengers of the curtailment and the result was confusion and over-crowded pavements. Particularly worrying was that school children at each end of the 206 bus route would find that their bus was not running (southbound from Wembley Park) or would be dumped at Bridge Park (if travelling north to Wembley Park). People working at Brent Park Tesco and Ikea as well as the industrial area south of the stadium were similarly disrupted.

About half an hour ago I found a woman at The Paddocks bus stop vainly waiting for a 206. She had been waiting for more than 30 minutes and said she would demand a council tax rebate.

Unfortunately this feeds a feeling that as far as Wembley Stadium, Brent Council, Wembley Park LDN (Quintain) and TfL go the needs of Wembley citizens (and particularly bus users) come way down the priority list on event days.

 

 Last word from a Wembley Central resident:

Last night when Wembley Hill Road and Wembley Triangle were closed to all but traffic exiting to travel down Harrow Road to North Circular Raid it was chaos . There were untold amount of Chauffeurs/Ubers/Taxi's etc all parked up on double yellows at the Triangle next to the railings, blocking the road into Wembley High Road.  All drivers were out of the cars, on their phones no doubt calling their passengers to let them know where they were waiting, The traffic on the south bound High Road was at a standstill.  It was complete chaos, I have no idea why Police or Traffic Wardens were not called to prevent this, it was still like this at 11.30pm.  The concert did not officially end until 10.45 that's when the fireworks went off. 

 The consultation regarding Wembley Stadium's Planning Application to hold additional major events closes on Monday.

Make you comments HERE. 

Wembley Stadium bids for planning permission for up to 54 major events (each 60,000+ attendance) a year

Wembley National Stadium Ltd has applied for a change in the cap on the number of events held at the stadium annually:

The variation of Condition 1 will allow the use of the Stadium for up to 54 major events per calendar year (an additional 8 events), with a major event considered as one with an event capacity in excess of 60,000 people.

 

The variation proposed also includes other changes to modernise the Event Cap as set out below. This variation is required to the Event Cap to ensure it is fit for purpose in response to industry change and an increasingly competitive market. Whilst the revised Event Cap could be taken up in full, in practice WNSL are unlikely to host this number of major events, with the additional events sought principally to ensure sufficient ‘headroom’ is available to support the booking process for artistes.

 

An amendment to Condition 2 is sought to enable the implementation of temporary traffic measures for up to 54 major events.

Concerts earn more income than sporting events and the application is for the ability to hold more  of them.

The higher direct economic impact associated with non-sporting events was due to a range of factors, including longer dwell times in and around the stadium and greater number of long distance domestic and international visitors, resulting in longer trip durations and more overnight stays. In particular, average expenditure per head was 120% higher for accommodation (£22 compared to £10) and 50% higher for food and drink (£12 compared to £8).

The non-sporting event timetable:

You might be forgiven for thinking that WNSL assume the result of the application, which has to go to Brent Planning Committee, is a foregone conclusion:

       WNSL has conducted pre-application discussions with the Leader and Chief Executive of Brent Council where the proposals in this application were presented. Following that meeting it was agreed between the attendees that:

    “The proposals presented were positively received and WNSL were commended for their professional delivery of stadium event operations to date. It was recognised that the flexibility built into the application to provide a range of dates to promoters and artists is a necessary requirement for WNSL to continually deliver global event success and retain Wembley Stadium’s world class status as an iconic venue for the delivery of sporting and non-sporting events. The benefits of retaining high quality acts at the stadium also reap great rewards for the borough of Brent through the growth of the local community, businesses, economy and tourism.”

There is no mention in the Planning Statement of mitigation for the impact of an increased number of events on local people.  Residents' ability to move around the area, especially by public transport, is directly impacteded. Some bus routes are doverted and others, such as the 206 curtailed completely.

For several weeks running now there has been next to no 206 bus service between Brent Park and The Paddocks in Wembley at the weekend. Yesterday I found a 3 generation family waiting in vain for the 206 at The Paddocks to go to the Swaminarayan Temple in  Brentfield Roadm Neasden. They had to abandon their outing.

Local resident Peggy Wylie asked in November 2023 when full-working on event days would be restored for the 206 following earlier promises that this would happen once North End Road was connected with Bridge Road. This was completed several years ag but the 206 still doesn't run and the elderly and infirm on the Pilgrims Way estate are cut-off on event days.

The latest statement from Brent Council earlier this month gives some hope:

We have been working with TfL Buses and projects in the Wembley area including Two Way working phase 2 which includes the provision of bus stands and us driver facilities on Great Central Way and making First Way two way. The scheme is at detailed design stage and we envisage that it will be delivered later this financial year.

The North End Road / Bridge Road junction has been enabled for future signalisation, with ducts and chambers already constructed. However, highway work is required for providing tactile paving at pedestrian crossings, reconfiguring road markings, assisting TfL’s signals contractor in pulling cables etc. We are now awaiting a cost estimate and provisional programme date from our term contractors GW Highways. We anticipate the work to take approximately 2 weeks and when programming we will of course need to consider the events programme for Wembley Stadium to minimise any congestion and inconvenience.

Once we have a provisional programme date agreed, we will coordinate with Transport for London traffic signals team who will programme with their contractors.

So far there are only 3 residents' comments on the Planning Website (Ref 24/1329) all oppose the increased cap and two are from residents of new blocks close to the stadium.

The information on Statutory Consultees comments on the Brent Council site are remarkably uninformative.

WNSL claim to have consulted with the following bodies:

WNSL has continued to organise regular Business and Residents Liaison Committee meetings which provide an opportunity to discuss operations with a number of groups including:

1.     Cairnfield Residents Association

2. Wembley Park Traders Association

3. Chalkhill Residents Association

4.  Wembley Park Residents Association

5.   Princess Court Residents Association

6.    Barn Hill Residents Association

7.     Brentfield Community Group

8.   Danes/Empire Court Residents Association

9.   Eskdale & Loweswater Close Residents Association

10.  Metropolitan Police

11.  Chichester House Residents Association

12.  Wembley Champions Group

13.  Ealing Road Traders Association

14.  Wembley Central & Alperton Residents Association

  The application Reference is 24/1329 on the Council Website

Comment HERE