ODYSSEY
CARPARKS
Meat Loaf was in concert at the Odyssey Arena in December last
year – over 10,000 were at the show, plus the Odyssey was
busy with Christmas revellers, and the usual cinema goers.
According
to Fiona Dougherty, it was a great concert, but getting out of
the car park was nothing like a “Bat out of Hell!” A
listener tells On Your Behalf that it took over 2 hours to get
out of the carpark!
So, rather a sour note to end a great night out. But is it reasonable
to provide parking space for hundreds of cars but inadequate entry
and exit for cars?
And charge you for the pleasure!
But if the Odyssey is our premier concert venue, it’s capable
of holding up to 10 thousand people, why are visitors stuck in
a carpark for 2 ½ hours! Was this considered at the design
stage?
Statement from Odyssey
Car Parks
In line with planning consent
the Odyssey car park provides 1500 spaces. Additional spaces
are available in DOE and Private car
parks within walking distance of the complex. There is also a bus
service running from the city cen tre to Odyssey, details of which
are available on
our website.
When a large concert type event is held at the complex it results
in up to 10,000 people wishing to leave the complex at one time,
delays will be inevitable. This is true of other large venues within
Northern Ireland and indeed nationally. Having attracted some 4
million visitors annually with very few parking complaints would
indicate that reasonably minded people generally expect and accept
this inevitable delay.
After a concert the car park barriers are switched to manual operation
to assist egress and we employ numerous marshals within the car
park to assist the flow of traffic towards the exits.
Vehicles exiting the car park are then met with congestion on the
Sydenham Road. This congestion is both pedestrian and vehicular.
Pedestrians accessing the car park or simply moving around and
vehicles illegally parked on the road or waiting to pick up friends
or relatives at the end of the concert add to congestion. The
Odyssey Trust Company Limited has no traffic jurisdiction on the
Sydenham Road.
It is hoped that any delay experienced does not detract from the
enjoyment of visiting Odyssey and we would assure all visitors
that The Odyssey Trust Company Limited will continue to work with
all the relevant authorities to ensure that Odyssey remains the
number one leisure destination in N. Ireland.
Statement on behalf of Belfast Harbour Commissioners
Odyssey Car Park
Traffic congestion is an unavoidable aspect of major events regardless
of the venue and this is generally expected and accepted.
The general area surrounding the Odyssey is particularly busy
immediately following major events with up to 10,000 people leaving
the building at one time, many of whom use the pedestrian crossing
in front of the complex to access the car park. Delay in exiting
the car park is inevitable given this volume of people.
The Odyssey Trust has arrangements in place to ensure that the
1,500 cars leaving the car park following major events are not
unduly delayed by the barrier system at the car park exits. However,
the pedestrian crossing, while providing safe access to the car
park, inevitably restricts the free flow of traffic leaving the
area along Sydenham Road. The timing of the traffic lights has
been set to minimize disruption.
In addition, it is common practice for private cars and taxis
to attempt to park along the Sydenham Road in front of the Odyssey
in order to collect people who have attended the event. Although
Belfast Harbour Police personnel, who patrol the area during major
events, immediately move these vehicles on, this practice inevitably
adds to congestion.
Belfast Harbour Police work closely with the Odyssey Trust and
other agencies to endeavour to minimize traffic congestion at the
Odyssey Arena. However, expectations that individuals should be
able to immediately leave the area by car following a major event
are unrealistic and impossible to deliver.
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