Brentford Football Club have unveiled their plans for a 20,000 seat stadium near Kew Bridge.

The stadium could be a major boost for businesses in the area, but there were also concerns about loutish football fans dominating the area on match days.

And with Kew Bridge station the nearest public transport, there were worries about the effect on the infrastructure.

Michael Lloyd, 48, from Brentford, said: “Will Kew Bridge station be able to cope with it? I don’t think it will. If the match days at Twickenham can tell us anything it is that the station should cater for the volume of people passing through it.”

Asaf Shareem, from Brentford, said the stadium would give a boost to businesses as a result of the extra 20,000 visitors.

The 33-year-old said: “It will bring a lot of business to Kew on the match days when there are thousands of people on the streets.”

Others saw the increased number of people as an invasion and thought it would increase crime and antisocial behaviour in the area.

Stephen O’Connor, 50, said: “This is not something we want on our doorstep.

“It is going to be a nightmare every other weekend when we have drunk football louts spilling into the street and starting fights.”

People living near Kew Bridge have been invited to a public meeting after Brentford Football Club launched the public consultation section of its plan for Lionel Road South.

The club plan to move from the existing stadium at Griffin Park to the 7.6-acre site near Kew Bridge station, which was bought from Barratt Homes in June last year.

A series of exhibitions will be held at Griffin Park for people to learn about the proposals, give their views and ask questions.

Brian Burgess, director of Lionel Road Developments, said: “Our proposal has two main purposes – first to secure the long term sustainability of Brentford Football Club and, second, to provide impetus and assistance in the wider regeneration of this part of Brentford.

“Our public consultation exhibition will represent another milestone in the planning process and we hope lots of people come along and see the plans and let us have their views.”

People unable to attend the three exhibitions can call the club for more information.

Call Nicholas Vose on 020 3023 9081 or email Nicholas.vose@
fourcommunications.com.

The meetings

Griffin Park, Braemar Road entrance

  • Thursday, January 17, 5.30pm to 8.30pm
  • Friday, January 18, 1pm to 5pm
  • Saturday, January 19, 9.30am to noon