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ornchurch ammer 10:27 Wed May 11
Why wasn't Green St closed to traffic last night?

Forget the coach issue.

Got to the ground around 5:30 and there were thousands of people milling around. The pavements were overcrowded and the road was full of people yet there were still cars trying to force their way through and, let's be honest the way that some people around there control a car, the potential for an accident was there.

It was not difficult to predict that this would happen so why were the police not more proactive? If the road had been closed to general traffic from Plashet Grove to Barking Road then they might also have been able to manage getting their coach in a bit better.

VirginiaHam 4:26 Thu May 12
Re: Why wasn't Green St closed to traffic last night?

ornchurch ammer 8:32 Wed May 11

I can't imagine we have any say in who closes the roads down. We are a football club, not traffic control.

Has to be the Police.

Far Cough 4:23 Thu May 12
Re: Why wasn't Green St closed to traffic last night?

Don't they close Fulham road for Chelsea matches?

Eddie B 4:21 Thu May 12
Re: Why wasn't Green St closed to traffic last night?

No, but if it winds you up this much, then I think I need to do it more.

One McAvennieeeeee 4:19 Thu May 12
Re: Why wasn't Green St closed to traffic last night?

Are you seriously fucking mental? What do you do, browse around on page 5 of this forum?

Eddie B 4:17 Thu May 12
Re: Why wasn't Green St closed to traffic last night?

ornchurch, I' sure the club have no say in closing surrounding streets. It was the old bill's fault not to close them, and no one else's.

Or even, just order the two club coaches to make sure they get to the ground before half 5.

ornchurch ammer 8:32 Wed May 11
Re: Why wasn't Green St closed to traffic last night?

Seeing as this question is being asked more now, including by Collymore on TalkSport, perhaps West Ham should come out and say who this decision would be down to, I.e. them, the police or the council.

My bet is that it is the police and/or council and the reason is not to upset the local population.

13 Brentford Rd 12:16 Wed May 11
Re: Why wasn't Green St closed to traffic last night?

Last night showed how out of touch the club and authorities are.
Both completely underestimated the occasion and that plenty would come without tickets just to be there and have a street party.

I asked a copper why they were blocking the main gates and he replied "to discourage people without tickets from hanging about" I replied 'good luck with that"

Passerby66 12:10 Wed May 11
Re: Why wasn't Green St closed to traffic last night?

They have closed Green Street before - when we next played Millwall after the cup game for example. Green Street was just a car park for police vans that day.

epsom 12:04 Wed May 11
Re: Why wasn't Green St closed to traffic last night?

One Word 11:58 Wed May 11

One Word - I was at the Britt (they under estimated the crowd as well) and walked up to the Station to meet some people at 6ish.

As you say, loads of plod vans in Plaistow at that time, yet hardly any plod vans at the Barking Road / Green Street Junction.

Plod got it wrong last night and focussed on a few old fellas walking behind a banner.

Johnson 11:59 Wed May 11
Re: Why wasn't Green St closed to traffic last night?

Complete lack of appreciation of what was going to happen by the club/authorities.

No shock there of course.

One Word 11:58 Wed May 11
Re: Why wasn't Green St closed to traffic last night?

Epsom you mention there was only a couple old bills vans at the junction

Well I counted 5 near the Brit pub and a further 4 down by the Vic lol, priorities again, proper policing of the crowd would of solved the problem

Life bans to the police organisers

Blunders 11:55 Wed May 11
Re: Why wasn't Green St closed to traffic last night?

Why isn't it closed EVERY game?!

Still, don't suppose it matters anymore...

Pop Robson 11:50 Wed May 11
Re: Why wasn't Green St closed to traffic last night?

Reserving the coach was pointless when it could have drove in and got out of the way.

As for closing the street, I agree they should have done it more over the years even for an hour either side of the game.

Still it done and dusted now, the club and police don't seem to want to admit they f**ked up.

Hopefully all the kids upset forgot about it once the game kicked off

ornchurch ammer 11:42 Wed May 11
Re: Why wasn't Green St closed to traffic last night?

Just because they have never shut Green St doesn't mean they shouldn't of last night. Should have done it more over the years IMO.

NHD 11:41 Wed May 11
Re: Why wasn't Green St closed to traffic last night?

It wasn't closed because that would have been sensible. FACT.

Rossal 11:40 Wed May 11
Re: Why wasn't Green St closed to traffic last night?

Should of been closed.

The police lost control of the junction where the statue is then it just spiraled. The coppers looked like they werent sure what to do, it was a case of making sure the situation didnt get any worse rather than any better.

The amount of coppers looking around trying to see what they should do then running one way then back the other they just didnt deal with the situation well or they didnt plan it well enough.

After the United coach finally went in the ground the crush outside was horrible, kids crying and all sorts. This after the coach was told to reverse in causing another 10 mins for people to build up with nowhere to go

Shock no mention of it in the media, one highlight was the horse that bolted by the statue launching itself sideways right onto a copper foot. Tried to walk it off but you could see in his eyes he was in agony

Pop Robson 11:39 Wed May 11
Re: Why wasn't Green St closed to traffic last night?

Turnstiles should have opened by at the latest 6pm, that would have cleared the street more and let the traffic move even if slowly.

They've never shut Green St to traffic that I can remember, did the man Utd coach even have an escort ?

The riot police after was weird upon leaving stopping people coming into the ground.

They were outside the ground during the game too, as hundreds were outside and also local youths looking to join in any trouble

ornchurch ammer 11:34 Wed May 11
Re: Why wasn't Green St closed to traffic last night?

The club probably didn't want fans in too early as they were completing the finishing touches to the after show. You could hear the band rehearsing at 6.

Agree though that opening the the turnstiles would have relieved some of the pressure as for once a lot of the supporters were happy to go in early last night.

Eddie B 11:30 Wed May 11
Re: Why wasn't Green St closed to traffic last night?

Walking out after the farewell celebrations, it was very weird to be greeted by a line of full riot geared-up old bill.

RichyP 11:29 Wed May 11
Re: Why wasn't Green St closed to traffic last night?

Brentford, good point, the BML turnstyles where I was didn't open until 18:45 which really didn't help cos people were just rammed back to Green street and Barking Road as there was nowhere for them to go. The stewards didn't have a clue why they being told not to open the turnstyles.

I wondered if it was because the staff that work in the ground were also struggling to get there through the crowds which is why they couldn't open the turnstyles

Mr Polite 11:25 Wed May 11
Re: Why wasn't Green St closed to traffic last night?

I was pleased at the lack of policing - I think a higher police presence would have seen more trouble - if you call a few bottles thrown at a coach trouble.


I didn't get crushed on Green Street, so can't comment on that, but at the Green Street/Barking Road junction it was a brilliant party and I think lack of police helped the atmosphere stay light.

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