"Leave the car at home or score an own goal" is the message to Arsenal fans this week ahead of the first premiership game to be held at Emirates Stadium on 19 August.
Councillor Terry Stacy, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Housing and Communities continued:
"An enormous amount of time and effort has gone into ensuring the vast majority of fans can get to and from the ground safely and in good time using public transport".
Three of the four underground stations in the area - Highbury & Islington and Finsbury Park on the Victoria Line and Arsenal Station on the Piccadilly Line - will be the main route to the ground for fans. Holloway Road Station will have restricted access before 'kick-off' and after the 'final whistle', as for safety reasons, it is unable to handle large crowds.
Some roads will be closed around the stadium, although new special access permits have been issued to residents and businesses to ensure they can gain access to their properties at certain times. Some parking bays will also be suspended in areas where there is likely to be large crowds using the footways. The council are encouraging residents and business to familiarise themselves with the new transport operation for the stadium. Further information is available on the council's website www.islington.gov.uk/arsenal .
"We will be continually monitoring the transport arrangements on the day. We will have over 70 council officers enforcing the council's operations, including parking enforcement, illegal street trading and litter collection.
"Our aim is to limit the effect of the stadium on the community, for example prioritising parking for residents with the match day Controlled Parking Zone ", he added.
Monitoring arrangements are also in place for the first Championship League match on 23 August.
ENDS
Page Last Updated: 29 July 2008