Page:Hillsborough Taylor Interim Report Cm765.pdf/14

 Access from Leppings Lane

As the plan Appendix 1 shows, the approach to the west turnstiles is across a narrow neck or forecourt at a bend in Leppings Lane where, coming from the north, it turns to the south-west and crosses a bridge over the river Don. Parking areas for the Liverpool supporters had been arranged north and west of the ground. They were therefore expected to arrive on foot along both limbs of Leppings Lane and would converge on the forecourt at the bend. In an arc across that forecourt is a line of railings with six sets of double gates. Inside those perimeter gates is the short approach to the turnstiles. As shown in the photographs Appendix 2, the latter are in two sections divided by a fence. The northern section consists of turnstiles 1 to 16. Numbers 1 to 10 gave access to the north stand. Thus there were 10 turnstiles for the 9,700 with north stand seats. Their tickets were marked "Entrance A" and were colour-coded brown. Turnstiles 1 to 10 correspondingly had the letter A above them and brown boards on the wall.

Turnstiles 11 to 16 were for those with seats in the west stand. Thus 4,456 were served by six turnstiles. They were the next block to the right of those marked A. However, instead of these turnstiles and the west stand tickets being marked B as might alphabetically have been expected, they were marked C. Their colour-code on tickets and boards was red.

On the other side of the dividing fence in the approach area, there were only seven turnstiles to serve 10,100 with tickets for the west terracing. Those seven turnstiles were labelled A to G. This was because there had originally been 18 turnstiles at Leppings Lane and the sequential numbering continued from 19 upwards on the south side of the ground. When the number at Leppings Lane was brought up to 23 the present arrangements of 1 to 1-6, A to G and then 19 upwards was adopted to avoid re-numbering all round the ground. However, above the lettering A to G was a large letter B. "Entrance B" also appeared on tickets for the west terrace. Thus, the three blocks of turnstiles encountered by a ticket holder at the Leppings Lane end read from left to right A, C, B. The colour-code for west terrace tickets and the boards beside turnstiles A to G was mauve. To the right of turnstile G is a tubular steel barrier to divide the queue for that turnstile from the roadway to the south stand.

Inside the Leppings Lane Turnstiles

Turnstiles 1 to 10 gave access to a passageway leading to the north stand. There is an exit gate (marked A on Appendix 1) between turnstile 1 and the adjacent housing.

Inside turnstiles 1 to 16 is a concourse leading to pens 6 and 7 and the steps to the west stand. There is a wall dividing this area from that inside turnstiles A to G. It had been built to segregate home and away fans at a time when the Club intended they should share the west terrace. That idea was not pursued but the wall remained. There was, however, a gateway in the wall which did permit access between the two areas. An exit gate (marked B on Appendix 1) was provided from the area inside turnstiles 11 to 16.

Finally, anyone using turnstiles A to G entered a concourse bounded on the left by the wall just mentioned and on the right by the wall of the private roadway coming from the south stand to Leppings Lane. There was an exit gate in the latter wall (marked C on Appendix 1) just inside turnstile G.

All three exit gates, A, B and C, were of concertina design. They could be opened only from the inside and were not intended for entry of spectators into the ground.

Those entering through turnstiles A to G had three options once inside the ground. They could by moving to the right go round the south end of the west stand and gain entry into pens 1 and 2. They could go through the gap in the dividing wall towards the concourse behind turnstiles 11 to 16 and then round the north end of the west stand into pens 6 or 7. However, there were no conspicuous signs inviting them to take either of those courses. The obvious way in was straight ahead of the turnstiles where a tunnel under the middle of the west stand gave access to pens 3 and 4. Above its entrance in large letters was the word "Standing" and a large letter "B". Thus B ticket holders were drawn towards the tunnel.

The length of the tunnel is some 23 metres. It rises slightly at first then levels off but finally descends towards the terraces at a gradient of 1 in 6. As it emerges onto the terrace, the way ahead is bisected by the radial fence between pen 3 on the right and pen 4 on the left. A short spur of brick wall projects forward from each side of the tunnel at its mouth. Those emerging are thus guided straight forward rather than to either side. The photograph at Appendix 3 shows the west stand and terraces.

As with the layout on the terraces, the configuration of the Leppings Lane turnstiles and the areas inside them was effected by a series of piecemeal changes. Again, it will be necessary to analyse their resultant effect. Rh