Stewards & away coaches leaving the stadium

[STAR Voice]

OK, here's the deal.

I personally raised this issue with both the club and the SAG (Safety Advisory Group - they are the ones responsible for issuing the safety licence to the club) about six months ago, in response to complaints made directly and on this very thread.

As I understand it, things did get a little better until the end of the season, although, as Starliaison has pointed out, we were slightly hampered by the fact that we had no definitive evidence of which busses/coaches were were talking about.

The more information that can be given to show exactly what is going wrong then the better armed we are - and PMs or e-mails to STAR.Campaigns@btinternet.com are much better than just posts on here, so please do send them directly to me.

When I get enough that I can understand exactly where the problems are I'll personally raise this with the club again - I suspect it might be that there is a new bunch of traffic stewards this season and they need it spelling out to them exactly what they should and shouldn't be doing.

[The 17 Bus]

Love the idea that they have new staff and they have not been told how to do the job!!!!

[STAR Voice]

Love the idea that they have new staff and they have not been told how to do the job!!!!

Doesn't that happen with all new recruits - not a case of not being told how to do the job, but not having been told (or not having fully understood) all of the finer details and what is/isn't most important.

[The 17 Bus]

Good organisations will train before setting loose, there will always be finer points to learn on the job, but I would assume and hope that there were also experienced stewards involved as well.

Time will tell if lessons have been learned.

[Forbury Lion]

If staff have not been trained well then the employers are responsible for their actions and injuries.

Perhaps the coucil can make it part of the safety certificate thing that they only employ staff to control traffic who have had the required training. We could have a Hillsborough with cars and buses instead of safety fences.

[Forty]

I'm very happy to meet a Chief Tango, or club rep and show them, firsthand what the problems are for an ordinary fan after the West Ham game. That's really the only way.

More chance, I reckon of it being Christmas straight after the West Ham game.

[STAR Liaison]

I have, as promised, raised this with the club, and received a response that having discussed it they are going to debrief the stewards involved on Saturday (as they only have them together on matchdays this is the earliest they can do so) and I will expect some feedback on their view of the situation and what is to change.

[royal goof]

I have, as promised, raised this with the club, and received a response that having discussed it they are going to debrief the stewards involved on Saturday (as they only have them together on matchdays this is the earliest they can do so) and I will expect some feedback on their view of the situation and what is to change.

Glad to see this is being followed up, thanks. It really should be taken seriously by those at the club.

The last straw for me was the physical and verbal abuse I received from a tango when I tried to walk on the footpath! This is being investigated by the club, so I shall not say any more on this.

For my part, I have been in discussions with a rep from the club and she has promised me a meeting with the head of safety. Hopefully I will be able to show him exactly what is happening every match.

I plan to take photos after Saturday's game and will then try to arrange a meeting the following week to discuss.

Hopefully things will be sorted soon.

*** I have been advised by the club that taking photos could be seen as inflammatry by the stewards, therefore if anyone else (because you haven't been warned against it) could manage to take some and PM me I would be grateful. Cheers. ***

[3 veesinarow]

Part of the problem could be slightly improved by raising the barrier at the bottom of the slope to allow pedestrians to flow more easily at that point. All that has to happen is that a line of only 3/4 stewards need to stand across the gap to prevent vehicles coming up. The rest of the tangos can stand across the top as they normally do and then edge the pedestrians across to the RH lane as the coaches are signalled to leave.

There needs to be more policing of the traffic coming out of Costco as well. As this is nothing to do with the club, the police themselves need to hold back the impatient twats who try to come roaring out of there.

[BLUES & ROYAL]

"Roaring out of Costco!!!




I wish


I was still stuck in there at 545 after the last Saturday game

[Royal Lady]

The taking of photos would be deemed inflammatory by the stewards??? Why's that then? Cos we can prove they're not doing their job properly! I'll be inflaming them later then.

[Jerry St Clair]

Things seemed a lot better today.

[Warfield Royal]

The barrier at the bottom of Hurst Way (nr Costco roundabout) was up and the stewards were using a small portable barrier to hold back cars which eased pedestrian congestion.

Ahead of me I did see a bus of away fans depart for Foster Wheeler within just 5 minutes of full time and while the road was packed with pedestrians but I didn't see if it caused any problems.

[Jerry St Clair]

The barrier at the bottom of Hurst Way (nr Costco roundabout) was up and the stewards were using a small portable barrier to hold back cars which eased pedestrian congestion.

Yes, this seemed to make all the difference. Much better flow of pedestrians down the slope.

The West Ham fans on the bus were being extremely provocative, so I think it was sensible to get them away quickly.

[Rhys The Royal]

The barrier at the bottom of Hurst Way (nr Costco roundabout) was up and the stewards were using a small portable barrier to hold back cars which eased pedestrian congestion.

Ahead of me I did see a bus of away fans depart for Foster Wheeler within just 5 minutes of full time and while the road was packed with pedestrians but I didn't see if it caused any problems.

They're half way there, now they need to do this to the one up by the hotel.

I find it quite amazing how they can use my money from my season ticket to employ a steward to stand behind a metal barrier.

[Royal Lady]

I tried to take photos of the double decker setting off down the hill whilst tons of fans were trying to negotiate their way down it also - but it didn't show the bus properly. It was much better, however. I think someone has taken heed.

[The 17 Bus]

how can you miss a bus, they are huge thyings, not the HNA David Bailey then.

I read that as taken head, how sick am i?

[PieEater]

I'm not clear about the stance of the club on this. Do they think it's OK to let coaches leave through crowds of people or not? When they ask for evidence and which coaches, and how many exits are there for away coaches, are they denying that it happens or that it does happen but they do it in a safe way?

The evidence of fans say that it is not only not safe to do this, but the drivers exacerbate the situation by driving too quickly.

And I re-iterate my earlier point, a tango attempting to clear the road with a loud hailer is useless if you are deaf or plugged into your ipod/radio.

[STAR Liaison]

The barrier at the bottom of Hurst Way (nr Costco roundabout) was up and the stewards were using a small portable barrier to hold back cars which eased pedestrian congestion.

Yes, this seemed to make all the difference. Much better flow of pedestrians down the slope.

The West Ham fans on the bus were being extremely provocative, so I think it was sensible to get them away quickly.

I think you have highlighted the problem the safety management have - they know that there has to be an element of compromise somewhere as it is their policy to get the away fans (and the resultant flashpoint) out of the way as soon as possible, but the intention is that the away coaches leave at walking pace accompanied by a tango. If this is not the case then let me know asap.

The large barrier was there because if it is not certain people think it not only possible but a good idea to drive UP to the stadium and so they used a smaller barrier for this instead after our respresentations and I am glad this was an improvement.

I know that those walking out will not see it but if the away coaches are kept back until all pedestrians are gone then the knock-on effect elsewhere causes other problems they will not be aware of. The current procedure is seen as the best compromise for the safety of all.

If anyone has suggestions to make please let me know and I will put them forward but be aware that they do need to take into account all others involved as that is what the safety staff have to do.

May I also state before I get more flak that I am liaising and reporting the club's position and not stating my own opinion (other than the observation that is self evident from the posts on here that some of those walking out will not agree with the club's procedure).

[The 17 Bus]

you are doing a good job here for the fans, after all this is being talked about on here, not via the club.

One thing i do not get is why any cars are allowed up to the ground at all, on the other approach road they use ctraffic cones to block ift off, can this not be done on this road as well?

I know that we have the hotel and guests may need access but it is first and foremost a stadium, and sometimes hotel arrivees should wait.

Long term the roads need re arranging so the coaches for away fans can go down on the RH side of the road, and pedestrians on the right, the Roundabout on the A33 there needs replacing with a junction with lights, then pedestrians, could go straight ahead, and cross the A33 without having to go into the flow of traffic, there should be no left turn onto the A33 from these lights after a game, Reading Borough Council need to take part in the design of this, RFC cannot keep working alone, the traffic system does not work, and RBC should take responsibility as well, they after all are the traffic authority.