Plans to introduce a huge new residential parking scheme around the Etihad have angered Manchester City fans - who say many of the streets included are on industrial estates and business parks where no-one lives. On match days hundreds of City supporters park on the roads in and around Briscoe Lane and Lord Street North, which are largely surrounded by commercial properties or bordered by green space.
But, under the council's new proposal, these streets would be restricted along with residential ones. Kevin Parker, secretary of the Manchester City Official Supporters Club, said: "A scheme that protects the parking spaces of residents we would understand, but if they are changing the restrictions around areas that are not residential, in areas that are commercial or industrial, for no good reason that would seem to be unfair."
Parking restrictions are already in place on many of the housing estates around the Etihad. But the council is considering creating a new all-encompassing Eastlands scheme. It's been partly brought about by the construction of the £350m Co-op Live arena, which is set to become the biggest indoor venue in the UK, with a capacity for 23,500 people.
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During the consultation period for the arena plans, parking was one of the biggest issues brought up by residents in nearby areas. They feared that dozens of extra events a year would see the streets outside their homes used as a free car park by visitors.
Residents in Beswick who the Manchester Evening News spoke to on a City matchday last month said the parking situation was already a 'nightmare' and told how they had resorted to putting wheelie bins on the road outside their homes to prevent fans parking up. Under the proposed scheme the restrictions would apply every day of the week.
Some streets would only allow permit holders to park between midday and 11pm, while others limit stays to a maximum of 90 minutes during those times. Mr Parker said parking around the ground is already difficult for many fans, and he fears the new scheme will make things worse.
He added: "We know that parking has been reduced in the area around the stadium because of the development with the new arena. At the start of the season we had a meeting with the club and they said the number of parking spaces around the stadium has been reduced by 20 per cent but the number of cars wanting to park has increased by five per cent.
"They have improved parking on the day to a certain extent. At one time people had seasonal parking, but they weren't sure if they were being used every week, or if spaces were being left empty, so now it's on a game-by-game basis. That's improved things but it's still a challenge to find a parking space."
On the Blue Moon fans forum supporters have also been raising concerns. JazzyBlue said: "I can understand not wanting people to clog up estates and terraced streets in Ancoats, Beswick, Miles Platting but to drag in the lanes around Clayton Vale, Phillips Park almost up to Newton Heath border etc is opportunism, especially as matchday trams aren't the best."
BandofBlues wrote: "Are they expecting 50,000 fans to have to descend on Manchester City centre via various routes and methods each match day so that they can all then walk to the ground or are they expecting everyone to squeeze into a couple of metrolink carriages and a handful of buses? So it will have to be public transport into Manchester City centre, which is actually travelling in completely the wrong direction for anyone coming from many parts of Manchester, followed by a 2mile walk to the Etihad and back?"
A consultation into the parking scheme plans is now closed. A spokesperson for Manchester council said: "A far-reaching consultation was carried out asking a wide range of people for their views on the proposed resident parking scheme. Through this consultation the council hope to gain insight on resident and business priorities when it came to match day and event parking.
"The council cannot comment in more detail as the results of the consultation are still being analysed, however, any and all feedback taken during it will be used to inform the council's future plans for this parking scheme."
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