How to get to Weston Homes Community Stadium

The much publicised Matchday Travel Service is in full operation for the first time on Saturday as the U’s look to welcome several thousand fans for the game against Huddersfield Town.

Here we give you the lowdown on how each service will be working this weekend – including information for the hundreds of Terriers fans who are expected to be part of the day.

Shuttle Bus Service/Matchday Rover Ticket

With the short time frame within which the tickets for this game have been sold, First Essex buses have informed us that you will NOT require your match ticket to get on the free Shuttle Bus service from Bruff Close this weekend.

However, you WILL require your match ticket or season ticket access card if you are looking to purchase the Matchday Rover ticket for £1 elsewhere within the Colchester Borough.

Football Specials

Saturday sees the Football Specials service go live for the first time and response has already been excellent for this travel option.

The route from Chelmsford is proving to be the most popular with more than 50 seats booked.

That still leaves room for about another 25 so please consider booking to reserve a seat or turn up at one of the stops on the day and if there’s room the driver will be happy to take you to the game.

Support for the other two routes is a bit more modest at around 30 each, although bookings continue to come in.

So if you are coming in from outlying villages, why not give the bus a try by going to www.networkcolchester.com, clicking on the Football Mad icon and booking your seats.

Discounted Rail Season Tickets

These will be able to be used for the first time this weekend.

Fans will need to show these in the same way as they would a standard rail season ticket.

Parking Restriction Zone

Both Colchester United and visiting supporters should be aware that the immediate area around the Weston Homes Community Stadium is subject to a Parking Exclusion Zone on matchdays.

Covering both existing Clearways and also nearby residential areas, these roads will be marshalled by Colchester United and Essex Police to prevent parking on roads not permitted under the Stadium Travel Plan.

Parking enforcement will be carried out, so you are advised to check signage and lines carefully.

Note that the Clearway restriction is not marked by yellow lines – but is zoned within signs marked with a red cross on a blue background. Clearway means that you cannot stop to load or unload passengers, wait or park, and the restriction applies to the disabled drivers’ ‘blue badge’.

The following roads have a Clearway ‘No Stopping’ restriction, which also extends to roadside verges and footways:

· Northern Approach Road;

Boxted Road;

Langham Road;

Severalls Lane;

Axial Way; and

United Way.

Most other areas have either resident only parking restrictions or yellow lines. Residential areas subject to these restrictions include:-

* Mile End Road

Nayland Road (particularly near the Dog & Pheasant pub)

Turner Road

Mill Road

Marshalls will also be monitoring nearby residential estates such as those leading off from Mill Road onto the ‘Roman Place’ development.

Please respect the residential areas near the ground. Owners of any vehicles contravening the parking restrictions could be liable for a Penalty Charge Notice (£70).