By Sean Whetstone
Claret and Hugh have asked questions about a new atmosphere-killing barrier installed between the new lower West stand and away fans in the Sir Trevor Brooking lower stand at the London Stadium.
West Ham fans in section 113 were upset to find the new towering wall at the first game of the season which effectively blocks their view of the away fans, killing any normal banter and atmosphere that is one of the most cherished parts of football.
C&H have written to senior figures at West Ham as well as the chair of the London Stadium Safety Advisory Group to understand the origins of the barrier.
Were the club and/or fans groups consulted before a decision was made?
Was this barrier a condition of the safety certificate or a planning condition to move to the new capacity of 62,500?
Was a transparent net, used at other stadia, considered instead of a wall that obscures the rival fans from each other?
Is the installation of the wall related to the Europa League game of last season where West Ham were fined?
Who approved and funded this additional barrier? Is the barrier funded by the taxpayer?
How much did the barrier cost to install?
C&H have today also submitted a Freedom of Information request to London Stadium owners with an expanded set of questions to get to the truth.
The installation of this barrier is another example of the disconnect between football fans and senior management who make these decisions.
It seems a sledgehammer to crack a nut and will probably be completely counter-productive!
Individual fan behaviour needs to be addressed and not spoil what little atmosphere there is in the London Stadium with a massive wall, the minority should not dictate what happens to the majority who are well behaved.
We will update this story when and if we receive answers.
I am disgusted too so sent email to supporter services as below, doubt I will get a reply
Thank you for the wonderful automated message.
Please read my complaint carefully and suggest you put it to The Board as there are hundreds of disgruntled fellow fans that feel exactly the same about the new “Berlin Wall”.
The main reason for repeatedly getting our season tickets in block 113 is to be next to the away fans.
That is also why most of block 113 also loyally go to away games.
Take that away and you ruin the whole experience that ALL fans of every club, home or away, have had the CHOICE to do so.
You have now taken away our choice.
I am absolutely devastated with this preposterous decision after having brought my son and nephew to West Ham since they were 8 years old (nephew now 36 and son 22) and brought up on the atmosphere (mostly good friendly banter) between home and away supporters.
All 3 of us have had block 113 ST since being at London Stadium and have loved it..Now you have completely ruined everything and the whole concept of being an honest football fan has gone, until such time as you stop incarcerating us as animals (back to the 80’s) and treating us with more respect.
I have never been one for the “GSB out” bandwagon as I appreciate the move to London Stadium and all they have done to move this club forward but this is now a step too far and going backwards to a Hitler regime with the Berlin Wall or Donald Trumps idea if the Mexican Wall.
Absolutely disgusted.
Please ask David or Karen to respond?
I would love to know where the decision to build barriers came from when in all other walks of life at the moment, barriers are there to be broken?
Worlds gone mad.
I might go support Millwall
Ian Hardy
It’s really good to see West Ham supporters, online sites and chat forums all coming to the same conclusion over this ridiculous wall.
Hammers United wrote an open letter to club last week following an unprecedented number of complaints from its members (see the link below for the full content) and included the following questions:
Why was the wall introduced?
Whose decision was it to introduce the wall?
Why was there no prior consultation between the Club and the ISC?
Will the wall be permanently removed before the next home match?
Thus far no answer has been forthcoming.
Good luck with your questions to the club, let’s hope they answer someone soon and we see this wall taken down ASAP.
http://hammersunited.com/the-wall-an-open-letter-to-the-club/
So the answer to poor stewarding is to, as usual, penalise the most loyal and vocal fans without any sort of consultation. Another club fan PR disaster.