POLICE and safety officials fear a planned new Metro station near Sunderland AFC's Stadium of Light may be too small to cater for match-day football crowds.
The extension of the Tyne & Wear Metro network to Sunderland will see stations added either side of the 48,000-seat stadium. But further stadium expansion has been ruled out until the Metro extension is up and running, in about 18 months, due to expected congestion on surrounding roads.
Public transport officials expect the Metro to be well used by football fans, at the Stadium station off Newcastle Road, and at St Peter's Station.
Ken Scott, Sunderland council's chief building control officer, raised concerns, at a meeting of the stadium safety advisory committee, over possible overcrowding at the Stadium station as potentially thousands of football fans converge simultaneously on platforms after matches.
The station design is only expected to allow for movements of about 3,000 people per hour.
The issue is now to be taken up with the Railway Inspectorate by John Swan, the council's assistant director of administration, who chairs the stadium safety group
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