Academy at Stoneham Lane Complex - WARNING

[nkc]

Watched 2nd years beat Boreham Wood 2-0 at Stoneham Lane this lunch time in National League U19 Youth Alliance Div E. But a big word of warning.

The Complex has now introduced an automatic number plate recognition system with a ridiculous 2 hour wait limit. This is the HFA and they think you can arrive at a match, watch it and leave the car park in 2 hours. Perhaps they do not know how long games last. I got there at 12.26 for a 12.30ko. The game started at 12.33 and finally finished at 2.26.

So I would be getting a hefty fine but luckily I had been warned that you can register your car once inside if you expect to be longer than 2 hours. So just past the barriers at the end of the counter there is an Ipad to enter your Reg details to allow a longer stay.

How many people will not realise this? Why have HFA not made the limit 2.5 hrs to fit in with length of game? AFC Stoneham already struggle to build fan support for a very successful team, this will not help in any way at all.

More money for Hants coffers, why else a ridiculous 2 hours at a football match venue.

Make sure you enter your details, after swiping at the barriers, to avoid a fine.

[hantslondoner]

Thanks for letting us know - certainly something watching our Academy should be aware of.
Hopefully AFC Stoneham, as the 'main tenant' will also put it on their social media to warn people. Perhaps poster purp1 can help with that, if associated with the club?
As you say, 2.5 hours would be more realistic. Even then, for big games..... doesn't encourage you to get there early to sample the hospitality, either.

Add that to the QR code, together that might put even more people off going there.

Do you know if this is both in the area where the pitches are AND the big car park across the road? Or just the former?

Perhaps refs will be encouraged to start games on time, to have a 15-minute half time max, and not play any added on time :-)

[davep]

Stoneham put a note on their Twitter feed 2 days ago, was a decision by the facility, not the club.....part of the reason is to stop Eastleigh FC supporters using the car park....to be fair if people are struggling for spaces to watch their kids play on a Saturday, this is fair enough....can see the point for spectators at Eastleigh academy and AFC Stoneham games though, 2 hours is a bit short.

[hantslondoner]

Thanks - I did look at the AFCS Twitter feed but obvously not far enough back. Hope they repeatedly remind people attending events there in future, like they do with QR codes.

The reasons you mention here would make sense, I suppose, I've had the odd problem with space there in the past when going to watch my grandson play there. I assume it applies to both car parks.

Next time I'm there I'll test out this 'over 2 hrs' thing - another thing to remember!

[nkc]

I just want to make sure we don't have people getting caught out at Academy games. Always key your vehicle Reg into Ipad once through the barrier.

[purp1]

Thank you guys

We were made made aware on Monday by the site operator Hampshire FA that parking restrictions were coming into force at midnight on the same day

Our club had no previous knowledge and had not been consulted in respect of this action.

The new ANPR system at Stoneham Lane records vehicle recognition on arrival and departure and applies to both car parks.

Maximum parking time will be two hours unless your vehicle is registered at reception which then allows free parking all day.

If a vehicle is not registered and parking exceeds 2 hours the fine is shown as £100.

The objectives of the new process are:
1. To obtain information on length of parking stays and peak times etc.
2. To stop vehicles parking on grass, double yellow lines, in disabled bays and drop off zone etc etc
3. To get visitors to stay for a shorter time allowing a quicker turnaround of vehicles due to current parking congestion.
4. To stop supporters who attend Eastleigh FC matches parking at Stoneham Lane Complex.

We have communicated to all of our 1500 players and parents whilst circulating the HFA communication as well.

I very much agree that this message needs to reach people visiting from outside of the area and we will certainly be doing this on a regular basis.

Thank you
Mark
AFC Stoneham

[hantslondoner]

Thank you, Mark, I didn't expect the HFA to have consulted you!  Must be quite a frustrating job there.

With respect to point 4, do you know if there will be any check at reception on people extending their stay? That will mean some extra resource is needed. hope the HFA will provide that.
If not, then EFC supporters will still be able to park anyway, if they register.
Extending the stay to 2.5 hours, although it would be useful to AFCS fans and some parents, again would be enough for EFC fans too.

[purp1]

Oct 27, 2023 7:10:20 GMT hantslondoner said:

Thank you, Mark, I didn't expect the HFA to have consulted you!  Must be quite a frustrating job there.

With respect to point 4, do you know if there will be any check at reception on people extending their stay? That will mean some extra resource is needed. hope the HFA will provide that.
If not, then EFC supporters will still be able to park anyway, if they register.
Extending the stay to 2.5 hours, although it would be useful to AFCS fans and some parents, again would be enough for EFC fans too.

I believe the objective is to stop EFC supporters parking full stop to allow people using the site to have more room to park. Don't shoot the messenger!

[hantslondoner]

Thanks Mark  -certainly wasn't shooting the messenger, as I said I think it must be quite a difficult one for you.

I was however outlining my concerns with the solution the HFA are implementing, and whether it will be effective in achieving their aim - not to mention the effect it may have on AFCS.....

I'll probably be there in the next couple of weeks anyway so will get the chance to see it in practice.

EDIT: today, in fact, given that my first choice game is off.
The small iPad is on the left after getting through the QR barriers. Design isn't great and processing is slow so even for a small queue it took 3-4 minutes to register. I think they could have found a better solution.

AFC Stoneham again very impressive today, beating Baffins Milton Rovers 4-0 (could have been more) and rising to second in the table.

[hantslondoner]

I went to Stoneham Lane to watch AFC Stoneham v Baffins last Saturday,

As per all the guidance, I signed in on the iPad at reception. It confirmed my stay, all day.

I have just received notice of a parking fine for staying 2.5 hours to watch the match.

I phoned Stoneham and the manager says there is nothing he can do. I have appealed against the fine.

Stoneham Lane is now off my list of places to visit. If the complex employs a bunch of cowboys whose software doesn't work properly, they can do one.


EDIT:
I let the AFC Stoneham guys know and they have been great about it - I understand completely that this 'solution' has been forced on them, without any consultation.

They are attempting to follow it up, but since the HFA, who imposed it on Stoneham Lane in the first place, without even telling AFCS,  is relinquishing responsibility too, then I'd be suprised if we have any luck there. Apparently I'm not the first one....

I don't really want to miss out on watching the Purps so will look for alternative parking arrangements. 

[nkc]

I saw you enter your details on Ipad, my son did the same and has also received a fine as have many others. This includes asst manager of Stonehams opponents Baffs, Fareham asst manager who was watching game, the list goes on. There was obviously a fault, we all commented on how slow it was. If your appeal is refused you can go to the independant adjudicators at www.popla.co.uk . Stoneham had a manager fined as well. I have not received anything yet but could just be postal delay or speed at which DVLA have returned driver details to company in some incidents.

If you go again take picture of screen when your car model comes up, and take again when you complete and it comes back with the confirmed screen.

Hampshire FA should be cringing at the way this has been implemented and how their customers have been treated.

Paul. I have also sent you a Personal Message on this. 

[nkc]

HFA issuing unreserved apology to all those fined since the system was installed and all fines being rescinded. Also changing the time limit from 2 hrs to 3 hrs, amending all the signs and extra Ipads in reception and in bar for those that want to stop more than 3 hours.

Shambles from the outset, let's hope they get things right in the future.

[hantslondoner]

AFC Stoneham Twitter/X has posted the apology, if you'd like to view it. I got an e-mail from the HFA too.

Thanks to all who contacted me, and particularly to nkc and AFC Stoneham (especially Mark) for their help with this!

And don't try and park there for the Reading game.... ;-)

[loudnproud]

Nov 6, 2023 17:51:50 GMT hantslondoner said:

AFC Stoneham Twitter/X has posted the apology, if you'd like to view it. I got an e-mail from the HFA too.

Thanks to all who contacted me, and particularly to nkc and AFC Stoneham (especially Mark) for their help with this!

And don't try and park there for the Reading game.... ;-)

But don't tell Reading fans   

[hantslondoner]

I thought this had been sorted out.

But it turns out that this cr*p system had been issuing more fines.

Hopefully this tweet from AFC Stoneham means that there won't be any more problems.

Hampshire FA looking good on this one (not)!

twitter.com/afc_stoneham?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor