Middlesbrough FC cause traffic chaos in Hurworth

12.08.09pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 8th Jun 2007

Middlesbrough Football Club (MFC) caused traffic chaos recently when they held the Teesside junior football finals. Over 44 teams with accompanying parents and supporters descended on the Rockcliffe training ground in Hurworth.

MFC did not inform residents, councillors or the police of this large event. The result was sheer hell for locals as car drivers attending the event parked over bus stops, on verges, in front of no parking signs, blocked driveways and acted without any consideration at all for local residents.

MFC have long resisted approaches to become an active member of the community. But they are in the village and as such must behave in a responsible manner. If this is how they manage large events then it doesn't bode well for the "Largest Golf Course in Europe" that they are building at the moment!

MFC have accepted full responsibility for the problem and apologised. This is a welcome step, but Lib Dem Councillors Martin Swainston and Malcolm Dunstone have written to the club demanding answers to why this happened and assurances it won't be repeated. They have also contacted Darlington Council Highways Department and asked for investigations into what can be done to prevent this misery happening again.