Work to improve transport experience for Aston Villa fans continues
Transport bosses continue to work with Aston Villa on helping to give supporters a ‘more pleasant experience’ when attending games.
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Last week, the club announced a major expansion plan for Villa Park’s iconic North Stand which will see the stadium’s capacity rise above 50,000.
But fans have long complained about a raft of issues with travelling to and from the ground, including the need to transform Witton Station.
Earlier this year, West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker announced he had set up the Event Day Travel Working Group made up of members of the club, West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), transport representatives and the council in a bid to bring an end to the problems.
And Mr Parker said the group was working well together as they seek to find solutions to the issues.
As well as regular club matches, Villa Park has been chosen as one of the host venues for the next European Championships.
The stadium will also play host to the final ever show by Birmingham heavy metal legends Black Sabbath.
Mr Parker said: “We’re working well with the club. Our team here at Transport for West Midlands have been working with folks at the city council and the club to streamline some of the transport issues around the ground on exit and egress from the stadium.
“For some of that, modest interventions can make a difference particularly around traffic light signalling.
“It needed the football club, the mayor and the council to work together. We’re starting to do that for the first time in years and that has created a really good working relationship with us all.
“Aston Villa, like all the football clubs where they are based now and the crowds they attract, the places around them were not always designed for the crowds they are drawing on.
“So we’re working with all the football clubs about how we can support them and their plans to attract big attendances and make it a more pleasant experience.
“Really pleased about the Villa’s plans to host the Euros and we are in working with the club and in conversations with Network Rail about the plans for investing in Witton station as part of that project.
“That work is ongoing and developing. It is important we are working in harness with the Villa, Network Rail, ourselves and updating DCMS.
“They are ongoing conversations about getting the best and most effective solution that meets the requirements of folks attending the stadium and the club.”
