When Wembley Stadium was redeveloped it lost many of its adjacent car park spaces and describes itself as a public transport access venue.

It has good access by public transport from central London and beyond, and most fans arrive at Wembley by public transport. What they do not do is to travel that way for their whole journey — they travel by car and find the Underground station that is most convenient. Anyone travelling along the M1 invariably heads for Stanmore on the Jubilee line, so the consequence is that Stanmore becomes a no-go area for its residents, a car park for visiting fans, with much litter and sometimes civil disorder.

During FA Cup semi-final weekend we will be the unwilling hosts to four teams using the M1, Bolton, Stoke and both teams from Manchester.

The London Gateway service area on the M1 serves both carriageways and is between the motorway and Midland main line railway. Six miles to the south there is a freight line towards Neasden which connects with the Chiltern Line and gives access to Wembley, a total distance of eight-and-a-half miles.

There are many examples of London freight lines being opened to passenger traffic and of new stations being built on these lines. A park and ride station at London Gateway would solve Stanmore’s match day parking and disorder problems and would give visiting fans an easier journey. Could it be considered?

Mick Oliver
Woodcroft Avenue, Stanmore