"Pigs will fly". That was the response from the Wimbledon Park Residents' Association to the announcement last week by AFC Wimbledon there will be sufficient on-street car parking if its plans for a stadium in Plough Lane are approved.

In the plans there is not a single parking space allocated for fans and no on site coach park.

Wimbledon Times:

But the football club said that the latest report, drawn up after extensive investigation, showed public transport would be able to cope with the influx of visitors, although crowd control measures might be needed for the new 20,000-seater stadium, which would start off with 11,000 seats.

Based on an 11,000 seat stadium, the club estimates 1,289 people, or 12 per cent, will drive to travel to games on Saturday afternoons and weekday evenings and they will be easily accommodated by the average 5,500 free parking spaces within 2km of the stadium.

The club said it may finance more buses for the routes in the Garratt Lane area at peak times.

But Wimbledon Park Residents’ Association chairman Iain Simpson said: "If they are thinking there are 5,500 car parking spaces available, pigs will fly. It is rubbish.

"There is no attempt to assess the impact of match day car parking on the area because there is no provision for parking on site - they are saying local residents have to bear the full impact of traffic."

The report from the club stated 7,070, or 64 per cent of visitors to the proposed ground will use public transport, and many more will be passengers in cars, come by coach or either walk or cycle.

AFC Wimbledon fans have expressed their delight at the latest report released by the club on Wednesday, January 28, many of whom agree most people will get public transport to the ground.

From Wednesday: AFC Wimbledon confident there are enough parking spaces around proposed Plough Lane stadium

On Twitter, Joe Blair said: "I’ll be walking. Be happy to see my club back in my locality once more."

Craig Beazley said: "With a station nearby this should not be an issue. The day Wimbledon move home is a good day for football."

But Tooting MP Sadiq Khan said: "Whilst I welcome plans to redevelop the dog track, many residents in my constituency have strong views about the impact this development will have.

"People are worried about the number of people who will travel to the stadium by car, and the impact this will have on already limited parking on local streets.

"They also want reassurance that local public transport can cope with the additional capacity, especially during mid week matches."

Mr Simpson said Wimbledon Park Underground station was often used for fans travelling to Fulham for Chelsea games and it usually worked out very well, although he was concerned about an increase of match day visitors.

AFC Wimbledon chief executive Erik Samuelson said: "One of the most important issues relating to the new stadium is about how we get supporters to and from the venue efficiently on match days.

"Our consultants have carried out a large amount of work on this by liaising with Transport for London and the boroughs of Merton and Wandsworth during the last two years.

"Although there are still some issues to be resolved, we are satisfied that the work has demonstrated we can deal efficiently with the number of supporters needing to use public transport and issues to do with parking."

A meeting to discuss the plans will be hosted by Merton Council because of the ‘huge public interest’ in the scheme.  

Representatives from AFC Wimbledon and Galliard Homes will answer questions from the public about the proposed development on Wednesday, February 11 from 7pm to 8.30pm at Ricards Lodge High School in Lake Road, Wimbledon.

A public meeting organised by Wandsworth Council will be held tonight in the drama hall of Burntwood School, Burntwood Lane from 7pm to 8.30pm. 

To read the full club report, visit the website.