Ground Facilities

[stubbs]

Sorry to raise the subject again about disabled facilities at the ground but after visiting again on Saturday I feel I should have a little moan.
My son and I enjoy watching football at Boro's level and below but since he had an accident 3 years ago which put him in a wheelchair we have found it very difficult to watch football at this level because of a lack of disabled facilities at grounds around the east Sussex area. We are not asking for much other than some disabled parking bays which give us room to get him out of the car and into his chair.Or if he drives himself space to maneuver his chair out and into his car. Surely with a quoted parking capacity of 400 cars a few of these spaces could be provided.
We did try 3 seasons ago and the club secretary kindly said that a parking space in the front car park would be left for us unfortunately these are not big enough to safely get him in and out of my car and no chance for him to get himself in and out of his car.
He did not visit at all last season and we came on Saturday to try again unfortunately we had to park near the tennis courts and his chair bogged down on the surface and nearly sent him onto the floor and if he came on his own he would stand no chance of coming from the rear car park to the entrance.
The actual welcome from the club could not be better but as you can appreciate getting into the ground can be almost impossible and immediately puts you off making a visit.
Can any of you suggest a solution.

[silverfox]

You may be up against it here unless you can make Len Smith listen. You have to remember it is very much "his" club and if he doesn't want to do it - he won't. I know of quite a few people who have raised queries/suggestions regarding health and safety particularly on exit but all falls flat (until there is an accident of course)

Your best bet would surely be to use the DDA. The club have a Statutory obligation to fulfill here and must provide proper sized disabled parking in accordance with the act. Good luck.

[stubbs]

It does seem a bit harsh if the only solution to the problem is to threaten the club with the DDA.
It would only cost a couple of tins of paint and the loss of a couple of parking spaces outside the clubhouse or is that where the committee park?.
Perhaps the alternative is to find another more helpful club like Lewes say.

[bredred91]

you will be lucky to find a place to park at all at Lewes and as for them being more helpful dont make me laugh

[goonerboy]

disabled parking at lewes,are you having a laugh.unfortuenatly you would have trouble to even get in the ground. getting back to the disabled parking i have only seen one person regulary in a wheelchair at the games. perhaps you could park opposite the entrance displaying your disabled badge then one of the stewards would help you if asked im shore,as it would be tarmac all the way to the gate....

[sam]

silverfox said:

You may be up against it here unless you can make Len Smith listen. You have to remember it is very much "his" club and if he doesn't want to do it - he won't. I know of quite a few people who have raised queries/suggestions regarding health and safety particularly on exit but all falls flat (until there is an accident of course)

Your best bet would surely be to use the DDA. The club have a Statutory obligation to fulfill here and must provide proper sized disabled parking in accordance with the act. Good luck.

I'm sure if you explain to Len or any member of the committee the difficulties you are having they will assist. I know the club spent alot of money on the disabled section in the new stand which would be a bit silly if our disabled supporters cannot gain access.

[yidarmy22]

Their is disabled parking in the mountfield road carpark and their is no reason why a wheelchair would have any problems in the ground either.