Those attending STH presentations in the next few days - Disabled fans need your help

[Shanker45]

You might be aware from another thread that there are some areas of concern over the facilities for disabled fans at the Amex.

We are still waiting to hear back from "ask the club" and Martin Perry directly ( questions asked at start of week) but if you are attending one of the Amex STH presentations you might be able to help.

Not sure there will time for a full on discussion at these presentations over all of the issues we are concerned about ( pitch side seating, non-integrated seating areas, parking spaces...) but one idea put forward is as below:

Q - Could the elevated seating area for disabled fans be moved from the South Corner (adjacent away fans) to the North/West Corner so next to fellow Albion fans?All help really appreciated as it was meant to be "Falmer for all".

Cheers

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I appreciate what you're trying to do but isn't the South Corner nearest the lift from the car park? The North/West corner is flat for vehicular access. I would have thought the South/West corner would have an atmosphere because the away fans are to the left and home fans to the right, therefore right in the middle of 'banter'/ singing?

sorry just read the other thread.

 

[Return of the Rev]

I appreciate what you're trying to do but isn't the South Corner nearest the lift from the car park? The North/West corner is flat for vehicular access. I would have thought the South/West corner would have an atmosphere because the away fans are to the left and home fans to the right, therefore right in the middle of 'banter'/ singing?

what?

 

[attila]

I have just emailed Martin Perry and Richard Hebberd asking for your questions/concerns to be looked into ASAP. If you email a private email address and phone no to attila@attilathestockbroker.com I will do my very best to make sure you hear from someone soon.

 

[Buzzer]

Thanks John. I know we have big musical differences but really appreciate your help.

 

[attila]

Cheers. If I/you don't hear anything beforehand I will ask Richard Hebberd when I see him in the PA box next Tuesday. It would be good to have a list of exactly what the requests are, then I can put them directly to him and hopefully get some answers. And, incidentally, I have just been sent an online promo copy of the new Vaccines single - they are the best new band I have heard for YEARS. Robina and I loved your rules list. It wasn't true. It wasn't fair. But it was funny
edit: Robina thought most of it was true as well

 

[Shanker45]

I have just emailed Martin Perry and Richard Hebberd asking for your questions/concerns to be looked into ASAP. If you email a private email address and phone no to attila@attilathestockbroker.com I will do my very best to make sure you hear from someone soon.

Top work , thank you.

 

[attila]

Top work , thank you.

No probs. Please email a list oif exactly what your concerns are. I will discuss them with RH on Tuesday. Sorry that this has been going on here and I missed it, I'd have got on the case earlier.

 

[Notters]

Surely it's in the south west corner so that both home and away disabled fans can be catered for?

 

[attila]

Had a very speedy reply back from MP.
John
*
We are looking into the disabled issue but need to research this a bit before we respond – I will send a holding response today.
*
As I say, email me stuff and I'll speak to Richard on Tuesday.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

Surely it's in the south west corner so that both home and away disabled fans can be catered for?

Will that now solely cater for away disabled fans ?

 

[severnside gull]

I appreciate what you're trying to do but isn't the South Corner nearest the lift from the car park? The North/West corner is flat for vehicular access. I would have thought the South/West corner would have an atmosphere because the away fans are to the left and home fans to the right, therefore right in the middle of 'banter'/ singing?

sorry just read the other thread.

Imagine if you can how would you feel if you were plonked down as a "buffer" between the home fans and away fans (let's hope it doesn't get too tasty at any point) - very visible to everyone as being "different" and excluded from mixing with your fellow supporters not only during the game but before and afterwards too.

 

[drew]

Home and away disabled supporters will be separated. The away disabled supporters will be in the south stand because at our presentation on wednesday they made a comment that even if the the away fans stand up, they will not obstruct the view of disabled supporters in the away end. Not sure exactly where they are going but presumably the lift comes into it somewhere.

 

[severnside gull]

Could I once again say, as a full time carer for someone who has a disability, how appreciative I am for the support of those who have taken time to consider these issues and notably Shanker45, Ponce Mohammed Buzzer and Attila for progressing the issues.

There is nothing worse when attending an event than being isolated and made to feel different and somehow less worthy of consideration than able bodied attendees. It is physically and emotionally hurtful and whilst appreciating that it is never deliberate (although often thoughtless) and that the omnipresent "health and safety" rules must be met there is certainly much more that can be done at the Amex.

Here we have a flagship sporting arena which boasts that it will offer a peerless viewing experience. But what for the disabled? A choice of pitch level with a limited vista or an elevated seat in the gap between home and away fans where the sense of isolation and difference could hardly be more omnipresent while the image of disabled supporters becoming some sort of human shield between warring groups is hard to escape. Is it overly emotive to suggest that no other minority group could or would be treated so differently?

Disabled fans who can afford to join the 1901 club are offered exactly the facilities at a basic level that one might have expected to be available to all in a true community stadium. The chance to mingle with fellow supporters before and after the game and an elevated view amongst fellow supporters.

Is that beyond the club's ability to provide elsewhere in the stadium? Seemingly not as the away fans appear to have a superior, more inclusive, facility for fans with disability.

It isn't a question of hurt feelings or the wringing of hands of do-gooders as some, I am sure, might have it. We are a society which professes to seek to include everyone and one which rightly asserts that having a disability should not render anyone less worthwhile than any other who is fully able. The limited facilitation of customers with disability in the new stadium has, I am afraid, fallen short in relation to other stadia including many much lower down the football pyramid and with no such pretension to an integral place within their community as lauded so often by the Albion.

Sadly the failure to fully consider disabled access is not limited to the stadium itself with less dedicated parking available than even Withdean affords and a resultant requirement to arrive earlier and depart later which will undoubtedly make attending evening games even more challenging. Of course parking at the Amex is an issue but the priority with which disabled access has been addressed is questionable if inclusion were given anything more than lip service.

Many supporters with disability will be deterred by the provision currently available and most of those who attend will, I am certain, feel disappointment.

How does it affect me? As a supporter for more than 50 years who now lives at a considerable distance and on a fixed income I go to plenty of away games and even a few home matches when I can get someone to cover my caring duties but I cannot reasonably justify a season ticket and in any event my wife isn't the world's biggest football fan. Still I would love to have taken her to the Amex one day and show her our new home - she went to the Goldstone once and to Withdean once when she was able. Will I do so? Sadly I think not. We could manage the park and ride but the promised experience within the arena is too disappointing and there is no prospect that she could enjoy it.So I will go on my own when I can and perhaps reflect on a missed opportunity for the club which is a shame. Of course I don't bring in a great deal of income to the club and people with disabilities can actually cost the club in terms of lost revenue (reduction in "normal" seats available). I wonder. Does that mean that we should not matter?

 

[Everest]

The away disabled supporters will be in the south stand because at our presentation on wednesday they made a comment that even if the the away fans stand up, they will not obstruct the view of disabled supporters in the away end. Not sure exactly where they are going but presumably the lift comes into it somewhere.

There are 2 walled flat areas (1 at each end) at the back of the south stand. I presume they are for the disabled.

 

[severnside gull]

Just to add that whilst it's great to see a response, if anyone is writing to the club or considering petitioning please don't take your foot off the pedal just yet

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

NSC at its best

 

[Uwinsc]

Thanks Attila

 

[Shanker45]

Severnside Gull - great posting!

Martin Perry has just emailed me to say they are not ignoring my email but want time to ensure he sends a detailed and accurate response to all the issues raised. Should hear more in a few days.

Interesting that it took an email from Atilla for me to get a response! Anyway let's wait and see what the club has to say although I am a little surprised that they don't have all the answers to hand.

Don't let up the pressure!

 

[severnside gull]

Encouraging news and really well done!


It looks to me as if the club had taken their eye off the ball and are now reminded that it is an issue. Let's hope so!
It may be a small minority and readily overlooked but as I am sure the club realise, the PR ramifications might well mean that the issue merits review.


My post above is the basis of a letter I have sent to Martin Perry today. I hope others will write as well and hopefully with a bit of shameless bouncing we can keep this thread on the front page as a reminder to ourselves as much as anyone that it is a live issue.