Access for home fans

[Lakeland Claret]

That's going to be a nightmare. The bottle neck after the game on the corner of the club shop onto Harry Potts way is bad at the best of times. It's going to be dangerous

And there's usually at least one car blocking the way and space even though they can't get any further .

[lakedistrictclaret]

On the original thread about these “ enhancements “, there was mention of cutting back past the memorial dugout and along Holcombe Drive to the Fire Station, which is the direction I need to go after the match.

Is this still possible? Is the route obvious? For the last thirty years I’ve entered and left the ground via Ormerod Yard, but now I can’t.

I’m becoming disillusioned with our owners.

[123EasyasBFC]

I know it's cynical but it just stinks to me of them wanting to drive people to the fan zone/club shop, wether the cricket club are also a consideration is possible I guess- but whatever the reason it's not to improve the match day experience.

I also hate the spin they put on this stuff.

To me that’s the main reason they are changing the player arrivals to the longside because they want people in the fanzone earlier. It’s simple though if you want more fans their earlier as the players arrive, start winning games!

[mikeS]

With 14,000 plus leaving two stands it'll be a bit busy for wheelchair users in the corner stand between the BL and JM to get back to their vehicles on the Fanzone car park

[BleedingClaret]

That's going to be a nightmare. The bottle neck after the game on the corner of the club shop onto Harry Potts way is bad at the best of times. It's going to be dangerous

Only going to about another 5 or 6 thousand people!

[ksrclaret]

The idea that these changes are to get fans there earlier to go to the fanzone and cheer in the players coach will look a very, very foolish one come the winter if we're struggling to score a goal at home and register a win.

Bonkers.

[colne-claret]

They have no interest in what any of us think, they've decided what they want to do and will do it despite it being a huge inconvenience to many supporters. We will no doubt see people no longer renew season tickets but I suspect they want to free up space for new fans prepared to pay more.

[Roger1960]

And they slipped in that Belvedere road is to be closed for 2 hours before the match until 40 minutes after which is going to make it even harder for anyone parked at that end of town such as bank hall to get to the motorway including a lot of away fans who park around Queen’s Park. Never mind even worse congestion for residents ,I’m sure the non football fans in the town must be getting fed up with the disruption caused by the club and the way the authorities seem to give them anything they want never mind spending £6m on town to turf when there are far more pressing issues in the town it could have been spent on

[ksrclaret]

They have no interest in what any of us think, they've decided what they want to do and will do it despite it being a huge inconvenience to many supporters. We will no doubt see people no longer renew season tickets but I suspect they want to free up space for new fans prepared to pay more.

There won't be a queue of people desperate to pay whatever money for a season ticket if we're relegated again like last time.

[BleedingClaret]

Wont be there on Saturday but its one way to push more people to find other ways of watching the game when they are making it more difficult for fans who pay and make the effort to come and support the team.

I’m able to walk this but I know many of our elderly clarets may not. Even worse in winter when the conditions are worse.

I was thinking the other day that those with mobility issues that park in the fire station direction and walk down Ormerod Yard could park around the Park view area, now obviously parking spaces will now be at a premium but reading also that the club want to shut Belvedere Road on match days, I’m thinking that they may need to parachute in

[BleedingClaret]

I would imagine there will be a portion of the north stand already exiting this way currently but get your point. Not sure if I can be arsed with it. It’s bad enough navigating the car park and tv trailers after the game currently - going to be awful experience for us at that end of the north stand

It wouldn’t surprise me if they pushed those Tv trailers further up the side of the Longside so their beloved away supporters aren’t cramped on their exit route

[BleedingClaret]

I would imagine there will be a portion of the north stand already exiting this way currently but get your point. Not sure if I can be arsed with it. It’s bad enough navigating the car park and tv trailers after the game currently - going to be awful experience for us at that end of the north stand

It wouldn’t surprise me if they pushed those Tv trailers further up the side of the Longside so their beloved away supporters aren’t cramped on their exit route

[lovebeingaclaret]

This is quite devastating for me.
I have osteoarthritis in both knees in various stages. I have followed Burnley since the days of Jimmy McIlroy and presently pay for my son, daughter, grandson and granddaughter's tickets.
My wife has always dropped me off at the cricket field path and picked me up after on Belvedere Road.
Absolutely no chance I can walk around Turf Moor and the cricket field. I have always dreaded the walk up to Belvedere Road a it is.
I have had a walking stick stepped on many a time even on that comparative short walk
I assume I can just cancel my direct debit without penalty.
I'm devastated but I can't put myself in a ridiculous situation.
Why the hell have they done this for?

[Vintage Claret]

No more heading to the Fanzone from the BL stand after match for me then- I'm not trying to weave my way through a bottleneck and 14k people heading in the opposite direction

Probably a good thing though considering the beer in there is overpriced and usually pretty crap, it was just a convenient spot to await a taxi pick up on Belvedere Rd at 6pm

[ClaretTony]

Now that the club has made this official announcement is there any way we as supporters can ask the local authorities responsible for health and safety in the outside area if they are satisfied with the safety of the departing crowd at this bottleneck or pinch point.
Just asking the question as I don't know who we can ask if satisfactory checks have been made.
I remember as a child leaving the terracing being lifted off my feet in this area by the crowd which is not a happy feeling, as the Ormerod Yard was not accessible back then.
Who would be responsible Burnley Borough Council, Lancs County Council or the Police?

It will have been cleared by the Safety Advisory Group who meet regularly. Without their approval it couldn’t happen. The SAG is made up of representatives from the club, council, police, ambulance etc.

[Granny WeatherWax]

We've had a lot of questions received about whether we're open, offering parking, etc etc... Fuelled at their heart by the summer's rumour mill about whether these access changes have been coming.

The answer is a big YES. The cricket club is still open and offering all the usual amenities (plus even more before the game for kids and families with various food trucks and drinks offers) with the regular happy hour post-match offers too.

No I get that, but the club have made it a lot harder for home fans to get there after the game. Most are likely just to wander off into town now.

[Walt]

And there's usually at least one car blocking the way and space even though they can't get any further .

You make a good point regarding cars. Why they let cars try and leave behind the JM is brainless, leaving them in the middle of the walkway obstructing thousands. The external lighting leaves a lot to be desired too.

Given the new arrangements I hope they stop this and make cars wait in their parking slots until it is sensible to release them

[BleedingClaret]

This is quite devastating for me.
I have osteoarthritis in both knees in various stages. I have followed Burnley since the days of Jimmy McIlroy and presently pay for my son, daughter, grandson and granddaughter's tickets.
My wife has always dropped me off at the cricket field path and picked me up after on Belvedere Road.
Absolutely no chance I can walk around Turf Moor and the cricket field. I have always dreaded the walk up to Belvedere Road a it is.
I have had a walking stick stepped on many a time even on that comparative short walk
I assume I can just cancel my direct debit without penalty.
I'm devastated but I can't put myself in a ridiculous situation.
Why the hell have they done this for?

I was going to say that you could get dropped off near the park view but it’s going to be extremely busy in that area now both vehicles and fans
Hope you can find a a way
Could you move the Bob Lord and get dropped off on the road where the park view chippy is although the rest of your family are elsewhere then and doubt you’d get 5 good seats together
It’s a ridiculous situation made unacceptable by the purposeful withholding of the information so that they could get their way without resistant

[BleedingClaret]

You make a good point regarding cars. Why they let cars try and leave behind the JM is brainless, leaving them in the middle of the walkway obstructing thousands. The external lighting leaves a lot to be desired too.

Given the new arrangements I hope they stop this and make cars wait in their parking slots until it is sensible to release them

Don’t forget the players coach turning the corner to the back of the beehole!

[Claretitus]

Absolutely shambolic from the “ powers that be”. Shows they have no idea. Clueless.

[Claretnick]

No I get that, but the club have made it a lot harder for home fans to get there after the game. Most are likely just to wander off into town now.

I'm sure there used to be a gate or a gap in the fence from the players car park onto the cricket field perimeter, or has that gone?

[BleedingClaret]

The idea that these changes are to get fans there earlier to go to the fanzone and cheer in the players coach will look a very, very foolish one come the winter if we're struggling to score a goal at home and register a win.

Bonkers.

Be even sillier when the players coach can’t turn the corner to the back of the beehole due to a crush of people

[BleedingClaret]

On the original thread about these “ enhancements “, there was mention of cutting back past the memorial dugout and along Holcombe Drive to the Fire Station, which is the direction I need to go after the match.

Is this still possible? Is the route obvious? For the last thirty years I’ve entered and left the ground via Ormerod Yard, but now I can’t.

I’m becoming disillusioned with our owners.

They’re not our owners that is some tangled web of lenders
They’re our self appointed rulers

[lakedistrictclaret]

What gets me is the sheer arrogance of it. Some of us who post on here have been going regularly for fifty or sixty years, or even more, and yet we are told we have to change our routine every match, for a reason that I still cannot really understand.

Who the hell do they think they are? They’ve only been here five minutes!

[beddie]

So on our way back to Belvedere road from the JHL are we expected to have to walk past or be amongst the away supporters if they’re parking their coaches on Belvedere road or will they hold them in for a period.

[ClaretTony]

So on our way back to Belvedere road from the JHL are we expected to have to walk past or be amongst the away supporters if they’re parking their coaches on Belvedere road or will they hold them in for a period.

You won’t be able to use Belvedere Road beddie

[Claretitus]

You won’t be able to use Belvedere Road beddie

The arrows on the departure show Belvedere Rd.

[Granny WeatherWax]

I'm sure there used to be a gate or a gap in the fence from the players car park onto the cricket field perimeter, or has that gone?

That’s still there , we won’t be able to walk that way though.

[ICL]

The provided map shows you can walk up Belvedere Rd. Presumably the closure to traffic, is from the junction with Ormerod Rd?

[Rick_Muller]

What gets me is the sheer arrogance of it. Some of us who post on here have been going regularly for fifty or sixty years, or even more, and yet we are told we have to change our routine every match, for a reason that I still cannot really understand.

Who the hell do they think they are? They’ve only been here five minutes!

Massive difference to our visitors on Saturday who are ensure they look after their over 85 year old fans with free season tickets

[ClaretTony]

The arrows on the departure show Belvedere Rd.

Only by walking all the way round. I think beddie was suggesting being able to walk up Ormerod yard.

[Claretnick]

That’s still there , we won’t be able to walk that way though.

Oh isn't that car park accessible from Harry Potts Way?

[Brucefanclaret]

Getting in and out to and from the disabled fans’ stand at that corner is scary enough as it is. This is going to be dreadful for me - and my fellow fans in that stand.

[dougcollins]

Isn't this what the ISA is for?

[Claretitus]

Only by walking all the way round. I think beddie was suggesting being able to walk up Ormerod yard.

Agreed. But many will have walked all the way round. There’s a good chance of a lot of trouble.

[Vegas Claret]

These owners simply have no clue. Idiotic and dangerous decision.
How has this passed any form of Risk Assessment/Health & Safety Audit?

Who does that assessment ? I assume it's someone from outside the club ?

[Rosehill Claret]

How high is the wall that backs onto Chichester Close/Holcombe Drive? Just asking for a friend.

[ClaretTony]

Agreed. But many will have walked all the way round. There’s a good chance of a lot of trouble.

Not sure what you mean by trouble. If you are talking home & away fans then they all leave together at every other away ground.

[Culmclaret]

On the face of it this looks beyond dangerous. I would be very interested to know what the Lancashire Safety Advisory Group or equivalent think of of it. I won’t make the further comments I would like to for legal reasons, but whoever thought of this needs to have a very quick rethink. I have a 540 mile round trip and so will be home 20-30 minutes later I would guess, not the end of the world but certainly not an exciting enhancement of my day. The safety implications on the other had could be catastrophic.

[LlandennyClaret]

Noticed they haven’t posted anything about this on Twitter/X.
Don’t think they would like negative publicity in the comments.

[Culmclaret]

ISA should write to the Lancashire SAG to ask whether the proposed access and exit arrangements have been taken into consideration in relation to,the club’s safety certification.

[thingandwhere]

No I get that, but the club have made it a lot harder for home fans to get there after the game. Most are likely just to wander off into town now.

To be fair, it's only harder for those coming in who used the Ormerod Yard driveway and you've still got unbeatable pricing waiting for you if you walk the extra 30 seconds down to our main gate from the traffic lights

But jokes aside and in my solely personal opinion (i.e. not as spokesperson for BCC here), all these plans are designed to get punters spending more over the BFC bar and their facilities and less in the nearby pubs and clubs as a result. We are most affected on the face of it but the Culvert pubs (who we obviously are friendly with and we support each other) will have had their customer dwell time and spend cut pre match as a result of this too.

A few grand extra to BFC is nothing. But it's a MASSIVE part of every pub and club near the Turf's yearly turnover.

What really grates me with all this (again, just MY opinion, not sharing on behalf of BCC) is that all this comes with "enhancing" our experience as BFC has it's community at heart. Yeah right.

[thingandwhere]

You won’t be able to use Belvedere Road beddie

Belevedere Road can be used on foot from all directions (and by car from Ormerod Road/fire station end to gain access to houses, side streets, Burnley Cricket Club)

[Holtyclaret]

Is this not the first stage of the development plans?
I thought the old players car park was becoming another fanzone, entrance to cfs all opened up, tunnel club, players arrival area, rooftop terrace, influencer pods etc etc… were the ultimate aim.

I guess it’s the next stages of the development that are the ones to enhance the fans experience rather than this initial stage.

[Darthlaw]

'Exit via the gift shop' or in their case enter via the fan zone tactics from the yanks.

Simple response, don't spend any money that you don't have to with the club. No merch, no food, no ale.

Owners like these only understand one language and when they see the revenues drop, they'll have a rethink.

[Orangebernard]

This is quite devastating for me.
I have osteoarthritis in both knees in various stages. I have followed Burnley since the days of Jimmy McIlroy and presently pay for my son, daughter, grandson and granddaughter's tickets.
My wife has always dropped me off at the cricket field path and picked me up after on Belvedere Road.
Absolutely no chance I can walk around Turf Moor and the cricket field. I have always dreaded the walk up to Belvedere Road a it is.
I have had a walking stick stepped on many a time even on that comparative short walk
I assume I can just cancel my direct debit without penalty.
I'm devastated but I can't put myself in a ridiculous situation.
Why the hell have they done this for?

I’m really sorry to read your story and hope that you find a way to be able to attend games. You really should contact Russell Ball at the club and explain your situation you never know they may be sympathetic and offer some advice. If Russell Ball lives up to his title of Director of Fan Experience surely it’s your sort of experience that should be top of his list.

[Andreshotboots]

Who knows, maybe this is all part of a master plan by Mr Pace. Maybe he's cynically trying to show the Turf is no longer really fit for purpose, by causing issues for fans, therefore reducing resistance for a new purpose built out of town stadium..

Stranger things have happened in football...

[Lu-tze]

I suspected this was the plan ever since the reports of swapping the fans round in the CFS.
They’re obviously obsessed with keeping home and away supporters as segregated as possible for some reason and I wonder if fans leaving CFS having a go at the sheff u team coach was a factor as well.

Also lots of complaints went in from supporters turning right out of the CFS towards the bee hole end post game as the space for you to weave through the oncoming crowd walking back into town from the JHS was getting narrower and narrower with them extending the compound for tv trucks/away team coach. Wouldn’t surprise me if they put a fence up now and just use that space all for parking.

Really don’t see the need for all this upheaval, seems a massive overreaction if it is down to those reasons or if they’ve had pressure from police. Won’t affect me that much as sat in centre of the CFS but anyone who is in the JHS and walking back to town or anyone in the corner of the CFS closest to the JHS is massively impacted.

If it is security/safety issues just say so! Moving a tunnel just because a few numpties ran on is madness and as for describing it all as enhancing the match day experience do me a favour.. they might have a leg to stand on with that if this new fanzone had been built and the facilities in the CFS had been improved but planning hasn’t even gone in yet!

As for the level of communication… no words

[Claretnick]

ISA should write to the Lancashire SAG to ask whether the proposed access and exit arrangements have been taken into consideration in relation to,the club’s safety certification.

The last safety certificate visible on Lancashire County Council's website is dated 11th August 2023. This of course may only mean that their website has not been updated.

[Culmclaret]

For the club’s sake I sincerely hope they have consulted the SAG about this….