What in the name of Dickens is happening in the Bennett's field car park tonight?

[Since1982]

Leaving aside the issues some people faced last night, I'm of the view that the standard of stewarding in the car parks in general is poor. I use the Uni which works well most of the time but could work even better with some intelligent stewarding. On Saturday, at the zebra crossing there was one steward waving cars across whilst the others stood around watching pedestrians cross in front of cars that were not unreasonably assuming they had right of way. It should be easy to steward a crossing point to ensure the safety of both pedestrians and drivers but it rarely seems to happen - I can't understand why. If that is typical of the training and organisation of the stewards then its no wonder that there are issues at BF which is bound to be more congested.

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

I'm going to start going by cycle (from Shoreham). Do you park your bike by the ticket hut opposite the Club Shop, and if so which route do you use away from the Amex please? I would imagine the walkway down to the station is impassable because of those queuing for the trains?

Bike parked at ticket hut (very busy last night, almost no space in the racks), onto walkway down past Bennetts Field and onto the Lewes Road into Brighton. In an ideal world there would be a bicycle lane on the far left side of the walkway, but it doesn't take long to get through to Bennetts Field.

If I was further afield, and had to come by car, I would definately have a bicycle on the back, park up somewhere on a quiet Brighton street and cycle on to the Amex rather than deal with parking somewhere like Bennetts Field. I often cycle to the Amex with a friend who drives down from Ticehurst, parks his car and gets his bicycle out.

 

[severnside gull]

I texted the transport manager and got the response that it took the club safety officer three hours to get out of a car park somewhere last week so at only an hour we are pretty good.
I felt like I was being told to **** off and do one for daring to complain and that is not acceptable.
Stewards should be on duty post match to direct traffic and maintain order. They can work in pairs and any user abusing staff can easily be banned. Withdrawing "policing" of the car park is wholly unreasonable IMO.

I wont be coming to the Hull game. After getting home at 2am this morning I think I will save myself the grief of Bennetts Field (and seventy quid in petrol) and sit back with a beer and watch it on the box. Saturday afternoons it isnt an issue as long as I am home for MOTD but evening games are a pain so I will say thank you to BT and take a night off from the carnage. The club already have my season ticket and my car park money and aftwr last night's expression of customer care they clearly arent going to be bothered.

 

[Giraffe]

I don't understand why people keep going around this debate with BF. Surely there is always likely to be the potential for delay, regardless of any periods of smooth-running.

So, if you are physically able to cope with the longer walk, swap to the University car park where you will have absolutely no issues whatsoever and be well on your way home quickly.

Or stop bloody moaning about it.

I also think the point you make is a good one. And if it wasn't my elderly father I would have done just that. But he will never make the walk from the Uni car park.

The car park has a lot of cocks in it who are prepared to push out anyone. THe car park also have several disabled fans. Many of whom it is extremely difficult to remain comfortable and happy whilst sitting in a car park for an hour plus.

HKFC is right in that generally this season and last you can leave at kick off and be out within half an hour. Last night it took over an hour before we were even remotely near the entrance. And it was a total bun fight with cars all over the place.

Evening games are always worse, presumably because more people go straight away and don't stagger the crowds, both in terms of park and ride and car park users. But there was clearly some other reason why last night was worse than ever. I just feel for those who can't just turn their engine off and sit there. Some people with disabilities really would have found last night difficult I suspect.

 

[Notters]

Bike parked at ticket hut (very busy last night, almost no space in the racks), onto walkway down past Bennetts Field and onto the Lewes Road into Brighton. In an ideal world there would be a bicycle lane on the far left side of the walkway, but it doesn't take long to get through to Bennetts Field.

If I was further afield, and had to come by car, I would definately have a bicycle on the back, park up somewhere on a quiet Brighton street and cycle on to the Amex rather than deal with parking somewhere like Bennetts Field. I often cycle to the Amex with a friend who drives down from Ticehurst, parks his car and gets his bicycle out.

Assume you mean the Bridge car park, not Bennett's Field?

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

Assume you mean the Bridge car park, not Bennett's Field?

Indeed!

 

[HawkTheSeagull]

I also think the point you make is a good one. And if it wasn't my elderly father I would have done just that. But he will never make the walk from the Uni car park.

Im pretty sure they run a little shuttle minibus from the Uni Car Park to the Amex, at least im pretty sure ive seen one running.

Surprising that P&R was the best ive ever had last night (maybe not getting to the Amex since it took 45 minutes from Race Hill) but only 15 minutes waiting at the end was the quickest yet. There was a clear lack of stewarding at the bus/car exit last night too, and it was a bit of a free-for-all - at one stage 6 buses were waiting to get into the Amex but no stewards were holding traffic to let them in.

A previous post saying that stewards who arent happy to work with the abuse should be sacked is pathetic and they shouldnt, but a clear message needs to be said that if you abuse staff and are found to be guilty of that, then you should be banned from the Amex.

It also shows that whilst people pay nearly £300 for a parking space, you dont really get any benefits as the free P&R would get you home at the same time.

 

[Alex Alex Dawson oo! oo!]

I texted the transport manager and got the response that it took the club safety officer three hours to get out of a car park somewhere last week so at only an hour we are pretty good.
I felt like I was being told to **** off and do one for daring to complain and that is not acceptable.
Stewards should be on duty post match to direct traffic and maintain order. They can work in pairs and any user abusing staff can easily be banned. Withdrawing "policing" of the car park is wholly unreasonable IMO.

I wont be coming to the Hull game. After getting home at 2am this morning I think I will save myself the grief of Bennetts Field (and seventy quid in petrol) and sit back with a beer and watch it on the box. Saturday afternoons it isnt an issue as long as I am home for MOTD but evening games are a pain so I will say thank you to BT and take a night off from the carnage. The club already have my season ticket money and my car park money and after last night's expression of customer care they clearly arent going to be bothered.

Edit: as my wife is disabled I am one of those who has limited choice so sorry Bozza but your "solution" is not an option.

Maybe you could get a permit for CP5 in the UoS (as have I) and then use the free mini-bus shuttle service to/from the stadium. Frankly, I wouldn't go anywhere near Bennetts Field CP.

 

[dougdeep]

Had to go via Seaford to drop someone off, maybe should have mentioned that.

But still no reason to go through Alfriston.

 

[HawkTheSeagull]

But still no reason to go through Alfriston.

I live at the top part of Eastbourne so going into the town itself would have taken longer, though I forgot about going through Jevington until i got to Alfriston.

Oh well, i stayed dry and my car survived.

 

[theboybilly]

Thanks for the help. I tend to stay after the games to let the queues for the trains die down but I'd rather have a beer in a cosy Brighton pub than on a cold concourse.

 

[Official Old Man]

Best Comedy Viewing.
Our group stand in the East Upper watching the snobs driving their spotless 4x4 tractors (who buys a WHITE off road car) and trying to park them in Bennetts. With 15 minutes to KO they still drive around unwilling to park in a single space. Tactfully parking in two spaces in a way no one can park next to them. We've watched vehicles being driven around for 10 minutes just looking for a double space. Don't believe me, just watch them yourself.

 

[Return of the Rev]

What in the name of Dickens is happening in the Bennett's field car park tonight?

I THINK YOU FIND WILL THE STEWARDS HAD TO BE RUSHED TO THE WSU AFTER THE DWARFS HAD BEEN DISCOVERED TUNNELLING

 

[Superphil]

Best Comedy Viewing.
Our group stand in the East Upper watching the snobs driving their spotless 4x4 tractors (who buys a WHITE off road car) and trying to park them in Bennetts. With 15 minutes to KO they still drive around unwilling to park in a single space. Tactfully parking in two spaces in a way no one can park next to them. We've watched vehicles being driven around for 10 minutes just looking for a double space. Don't believe me, just watch them yourself.

That'll be half the players, and some of the WAGs then! I reguarly see players, those not playing, injured etc, and their other halfs, parking in BF, I guess the players car park is full, or the WAGs don't get a pass for that car park. We sat behind Vicente a few times last season in his white Q7(I think it was a Q7), then there's Kazs white X6, oh, and El-Abds white X6 was a regular too, his wife used to drive him home after games. What colour is FBS Discovery, it's either white or silver. The assistant manager also has a white 4x4, and there was a white Spanish plated Range Rover last night. Don't forget CMSs white R8, which he parks over 2 spaces in BF also.
Bloody snobs.

 

[16 bit 44.1]

If stewards are being abused, racially or otherwise by drivers in the car park I would try looking for some kind of unique indentifier on the vehicle so that they could report that person and have them banned. I mean I don't know, maybe I'm sticking my neck out here, but perhaps THE NUMBER PLATE!!!!!!

Frankly if a steward is too thick to work that out then maybe they should try something a little less challenging - like long term unemployment!!!

 

[rippleman]

For first time v Donny I managed to get a lift from someone who had a permit to park in BF. I was amazed that when we entered the car park area there was a line of 8 stewards wafting us through...but no stewards directing us to an empty space. At the time I remarked that the club could cut costs by ditching the stewards on wafting duty but then I thought that they must be vital in organising vehicles departing after the match (I travelled back by train).

Clearly they aren't making any contribution AFTER the game either so I'm back to where I started. If they serve no useful purpose whatsoever, other than some seriously impressive wafting, and wont even "police" the car park at the end of a game, then let's bin them and stick the savings in the playing budget pot!!

 

[Seagull on the wing]

I don't understand why people keep going around this debate with BF. Surely there is always likely to be the potential for delay, regardless of any periods of smooth-running.

So, if you are physically able to cope with the longer walk, swap to the University car park where you will have absolutely no issues whatsoever and be well on your way home quickly.

Or stop bloody moaning about it.

And if your not physically abled to walk that far...?

 

[severnside gull]

Maybe you could get a permit for CP5 in the UoS (as have I) and then use the free mini-bus shuttle service to/from the stadium. Frankly, I wouldn't go anywhere near Bennetts Field CP.

On the waiting list (since last season)

 

[severnside gull]

Maybe you could get a permit for CP5 in the UoS (as have I) and then use the free mini-bus shuttle service to/from the stadium. Frankly, I wouldn't go anywhere near Bennetts Field CP.

On the waiting list (since last season)

 

[Alex Alex Dawson oo! oo!]

And if your not physically abled to walk that far...?

You use the free shuttle bus from CP5; this is what I do when I'm so knackered from chemotherapy that I'd struggle to walk to the stadium.