Man City claim disabled parking charges were a trial to boost occupancy - as club moves to refundable scheme in bid to alleviate fan concerns
- Fan groups had condemned what was labelled a ‘disability tax’ by the club
- Disabled supporters were charged £6 to reserve a spot at the Etihad Stadium
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MANCHESTER CITY will bring in a refundable deposit scheme for disabled car parking to calm fears of match-going fans having to pay hundreds of pounds to park outside the Etihad Stadium this season.
Disabled supporters were incensed that the Premier League champions had brought in a £6 charge to reserve a spot outside the ground for matches, something they had never had to do before.
A crowdfunding campaign was launched to raise funds to help affected fans and has reached almost £2,500.
City have been attempting to tackle an issue of free disabled spaces being reserved but then not used. Research suggested that less than half had been occupied in recent seasons.
They say the introduction of a fee for last month’s victory over Ipswich saw occupancy rise to around 90 per cent.
Man City have moved to a refundable deposit scheme for disabled car parking at the Etihad
City have now stated that Ipswich was a trial to find out whether a fee worked in making sure the places were filled on a match day, and that they planned to implement a deposit scheme if it proved successful.
Fans will pay £6 to secure a spot for the game against Brentford next Saturday and then be refunded should they use their space.
City will keep the fee from those who do not use it, saying any funds will go to their community projects.
Nearly £2,500 has been raised by supporters to help disabled fans to recoup charges
The Football Supporters’ Association and a wide range of City fan groups had earlier condemned what was labelled a ‘disability tax’.
The club’s former disabled supporters’ representative, Mark Todd, claimed that ‘those responsible at City should hang their heads in shame’.
