Blackpool FC unveils plan to keep fans safer at Bloomfield Road stadium

The club is seeking planning permission from the council for three new exits at the south east corner of the stadium, enabling away supporters to disperse more quickly into Henry Street.

Lancashire Constabulary, which is supporting the application, says this would make the stadium safer and "prevent the large crossover of fans on Bloomfield Road" .

In a letter submitted in support of the plans, Superintendent Chris Hardy, Blackpool and Fylde operations manager, says: "From my own experience of commanding at Blackpool, the crossover of home and away fans in the north east corner has at times been problematic.

"This area has seen a slow egress and as a result this has provided the opportunity for a small minority of fans to be in close contact and throw missiles and try to provoke a reaction from each other, causing injury and changing the crowd dynamics.

"Consequently this has then required police and steward intervention.

"The new south east exit would allow for a quicker and more effective dispersal of fans and reduce the pressure on the north east exits, in my view making the egress from the stadium safer.

"This new exit would also prevent the large crossover of fans on Bloomfield Road."

The plans would see two new double doors and one single door installed, and also include proposals for a bigger first aid room on the concourse.

Planning documents add the scheme would "assist in the separation of home and away supporters which improves the local police’s ability to manage the safety of supporters and, in turn, the harmony of the surrounding areas on match days."

It follows on from the closure of roads around the stadium on match days for the first time this season as part of improved crowd safety measures.

Traffic is banned from Bloomfield Road between its junctions with Seasiders Way and Central Drive, and from short stretches of Seymour Road, St Helier's Road, Saville Road and Henry Street for a maximum of 15 minutes before the start of games, and around 20 minutes after the end.