Event traffic and parking management Marshalling maestros ExCeL London hosts events ranging from car racing to wedding shows and science exhibitions. Its senior traffic and parking manager, Steve Barber, explains how the Royal Docks venue manages its busy exhibitor access and parking demands he best analogy for an event is a construction site and every week at ExCeL London, at least one new one is in operation. The cycle is the build-up when sets and stands are built the opening of the event, and then the break down afterwards, when all trace of the event disappears. The entire process depends on efficient access and parking for vehicles. Most vehicles that come to ExCeL are HGVs and vans of all shapes and sizes. The drivers come from all walks of life, and some are not familiar with UK traffic laws. Although certain events come to ExCeL every year, the same exhibitors and contractors will not necessarily be participating so, for each event, it has to be assumed that everyone is new. T Contractors prefer to park on site so they can access their vehicles easily in case they need tools or other materials A sound process Fundamental to the success of every event is a smooth process for deliveries and access for contractors who are working on the build-up and break down of the event. A robust management system is essential. Vehicles arrive and register with the traffic office, where drivers are given a time slot to load or unload, depending on the size of their consignment. They wait in the vehicle-marshalling area and are then invited to drive up the lorryway at the appropriate time. During build-up, contractors prefer to park on site so they can access their vehicles easily in case they need tools or other materials. The parking spaces under the venue are used exclusively for cars. Except for the multi-storey car park, the remaining spaces around the estate are used for commercial vehicle parking. The role of technology Although technology is used to manage bookings for the car park effectively, implementing a similar system for deliveries and contractor loading and unloading is more challenging. During the busiest periods, the traffic team can be marshalling as many as 500 vehicles in a four-hour period. With limited time to build and load once the event has finished, drivers are in fierce competition for the earliest slots available. They often arrive early, irrespective, to secure a place in the queue. Although technology can solve some of the challenges, good old-fashioned people marshalling remains very much at the heart of the service. britishparking.co.uk 29 PN Nov19 pp28-29 Excel parking.indd 23 24/10/2019 12:23