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.
