DavidNikel.org.uk
26Jun/09Off

Edgbaston Cricket Ground

Most of the controversy about the planned expansion of Edgbaston Cricket Ground has related to the floodlights. Labour MP Roger Godsiff and Respect Councillor Salma Yaqoob have been particularly outspoken.

However, what about the impact of traffic on local residents? Balsall Heath dweller and podcast supremo Nick Booth filmed a mini-documentary highlighting the impact of a cricket match on the residential streets of Balsall Heath:

"It can be a right pain living near Edgbaston cricket ground. Because the club doesn't take repsonsibility for making sure there is enough good parking for people then the people living around the ground have to bear that responsibility instead. It means gridlock and frustration - all for a gentleman's game. How odd!"

Plans for the proposed Birmingham Aquatics and Leisure Centre include provision for parking within the NIA complex and proposals for a residents permit scheme on a nearby housing estate.

I don't know the cricket ground area particularly well, but I assume from Nick's video that there is no such permit scheme in place. The issue with implementing one would be the alternative parking arrangements. Perhaps the solution lies in a park-and-ride scheme from say Star City, or somewhere on the 45/47 bus route?

Comments (1) Trackbacks (0)
  1. When the traffic is expected to be very heavy the streets get coned. Then really bizarre things tend to happen. If they choose to enforce you find people parking legally outside their own house in the evening and being ticketed the following morning, they haven’t moved – someone has simply put a cone beside their car. That happens from time to time.

    Usually though someone gets paid to put cones out and then nobody enforces, so the visitors ignore the cones and park anyway.

    The whole process is why we coined the word fatuous.

Trackbacks are disabled.