Yesterday we read in a (insulting and patronising) Club statement re Parking that -- 'We have 82 spaces available, we as a club feel that this is an acceptable offering.' After messages objecting to the wording the Club statement has been truncated to - 'We have 82 spaces available.' The club can provide as many parking spaces for disabled supporters as it wants but the main issue is that many supporters with a disability can't be accommodated at the Ground. (over a 100 !) In the past Beth did her best to sort out this problem for many fans - not sure if anyone is doing it now. My disabled nephew (37) want to take his youngsters to matches - there is no provision at all for families where one member is disabled to sit together. (He uses a wheelchair - he can't even get into the building unless someone is around to open the door for him.) Is anyone at the Club addressing this issue?
We were pioneers in disabled facilities at football grounds many years ago but I wonder if more work is needed now? I’m not affected at all but I’m sure many will be concerned about this
I have an ongoing complaint with the club re being disabled and the club not treating disabled customers in the same way as others. I'm not going to go into the full details but two parts of it: The club have a designated family area in the east upper. Disabled people are unable to access this area, so have to sit elsewhere. So a family with a disabled member are unable to benefit from the reduced prices offered to families, who through no fault of their own cant get to the family stand. The club don't see this as an issue - I do and I am sure others would. By having to sit elsewhere the families season tickets are significantly more expensive. Tickets - Disabled supporters are offered a carer ticket for free. However the club make it extremely difficult to purchase these. Wembley tickets for example, were only available to purchase for disabled customers at the club in person. Sheffield Wednesday had theirs available online for purchase, so it could be done, but BFC chose not. There are other issues too, the silence from the club or failure to accept the issues I, and others face is deafening.
More work is certainly needed in my opinion. The closure of Beevor Court makes it significantly more difficult for me to access the East Stand, the clubs answer to this - 'We have disabled parking in the South Stand car park'. They might do - but as already pointed out there isn't any available, and a waiting list!
I imagine it takes forever to get into that ponty end car park as well? I never use it as I park ten minutes walk away. I know disabled fans would not be able to walk up and down Oakwell Lane. I'm finding it a bit of a struggle getting back up these days especially on a cold day
Whatever happened to the fans and club coming together like last season? It seems to me as if they don't care now - strange !
Definitely. I've seen statements change within a minute of someone mentioning an error, pointing out missing information, or objecting on here.
It’s that last bit isn’t it. I go slowly up the first bit, dodging the idiots trying to drive up or down. The second bit, next to the railway, is the same. Then the incline suddenly increases and by the time I’m within 20 yds of the top the breathing is getting harder. Then, thank goodness, the relief of Donny Rd, mercifully flat. On towards the car up Wilby Lane. Survived it one more time and three more points tucked away in the boot for my drive up the M1. Ah, don’t we all just LOVE match days!
