Disabled fan's plea for more room at ground
A disabled Pompey fan has demanded more room for blue badge holders after being refused a free parking space at Fratton Park.
Trevor Burben was shocked to discover he had to pay 10 after years of being allowed to park for nothing next to the football stadium's main entrance.
The 73-year-old arrived 45 minutes before Pompey's season-opening match against Coventry started - but was told all the disabled parking had already gone.
In the past, Portsmouth Football Club has provided free parking for any disabled customers who could show their blue badges.
But after the club's former owner Sacha Gaydamak - who still owns much of the land around Fratton Park - handed over the responsibility for running the car park to GL Facilities Management, there are now a strictly limited number of spaces.
Mr Burben, of Oakwood Road, Hayling Island, said: 'It's disgusting that this company are making money out of disabled fans like this.
'I think they're quite happy to capitalise on the situation in any way they can, with no regard for the supporters or disabled people or anything.'
Lifelong Pompey fan Mr Burben even called up several times in the week before the match to check he could definitely park for free.
He said: 'When I arrived it was a different company running things, and they wouldn't give an inch. There were lots of spaces in the car park, and I was still told to pay the fee or leave. I'm just glad I had 10 on me.'
Staff at the ground confirmed that from an overall capacity of 500 vehicles, the club pays GL Facilities Management to use around 80 spaces.
Lucius Peart, brand and marketing manager for Pompey, said that these bays had to be used by players and club staff, as well as any disabled fans.
He said: 'We normally allocate spaces for the 49 season ticket holders who we know are disabled.
'On this occasion 60 blue badge holders turned up and so we filled our allocation faster than usual.'
A spokesman for GL Facilities Management said that there should be ample parking for disabled fans at the stadium.
He said: 'Unless the spaces which we have agreed with the club will be for disabled use are being used for something else there should not be a problem.
'Anyone showing a disabled ticket issued by the club will never be asked to pay, and we regret if this has happened.
'We are willing to sit down with the club to discuss this further.'
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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