Hackney Labour, working with our London Assembly Member Jennette Arnold, have won a victory for residents who live close to the new stadium of Arsenal Football Club.   

For years, whenever matches were played, streets in the west of the borough were clogged with fans parking their cars and walking to the stadium. However, after lobbying from Labour councillors and a question at the Assembly, the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, has arranged for Hackney officers to attend his regular meetings with the north London club.  

This will allow the ongoing issues of parking and the costs to the council of operating a match day scheme, which Arsenal pay for in Islington, but refuse to do so here in Hackney, to be raised and have Arsenal challenged on their record.  Jennette Arnold AM, welcomed the move saying, "This shows how all the different parts of a Labour team work together.

Labour councillors told me of the problem and I raised this with the London Mayor who was happy to be of assistance to Hackney residents. I'm pleased that the issues of how Arsenal affect Hackney residents can now be properly addressed".  

Cllr Karen Alcock, one of the councillors for Clissold ward, one of the most affected areas also celebrated this step forward: "I hope this means that Arsenal will now pay their fair share of the costs that right now, they expect Hackney taxpayers to foot for their football fans.