Aston Villa spark backlash as disabled fans charged double in Villa Park price hike
Aston Villa fans who had a disabled parking space outside Villa Park last season have been left furious after being asked to pay double to keep their spot.
Disabled fans were informed of the change a week before the first home game of the season (Image: Getty Images)
Aston Villa have angered supporters after putting up the price of disabled matchday parking at the Villa Village by 100 per cent.
The club informed fans who had a disabled parking slot outside the North Stand last term about the steep fee increase the week before their first home fixture against Arsenal on August 24.
Fans were suddenly faced with the reality of paying twice as much as last season for preserving their parking place, seeing prices skyrocket from £190 to £380.
The options given to fans were stark: either stick with their current parking spot in the Villa Village lot for £380 or snap up a space at the Yew Tree Community School for the duration of the season at £228.
Compounding the issue is the fact that the alternative parking area, on school grounds off Station Road, lacks specially designated disabled parking bays.
One supporter expressed their frustration to BirminghamLive over the price surge for the Villa Village car park.
They said: "I didn't just feel under pressure to pay the increase [for Villa Village disabled parking], I knew I was under pressure because whatever decision I made was likely one which would stick.
"I had absolutely no other option than to pay the £380 if I wanted to continue watching the Villa. It is a fiasco."
Another said: "It was such short notice and while we did expect an increase, not double. How can you find that money in that time? My disabled brother relies on income from benefits and he has to pay for carers for himself.
"He has to use his money to pay for his carers, so to ask for another £190 to pay in a week is just unacceptable. They didn't give us six or eight weeks to get the money together, it felt like now or never."
Fans are being asked to pay double last season's rate for disabled spaces (Image: GETTY)
The steep price hike for spots at the Villa Village car park amounts to £20 per league game.
BirminghamLive reports that the surge in prices for disabled parking near the North Stand mirrors the rise in costs for hospitality parking. The club's ongoing construction work has led to a reduction in available disabled parking spaces.
However, plans are underway to increase these spots. The club are also developing a system that will allow disabled fans to resell their parking space should they be unable to attend a match.
"Many disabled fans won't be able to go to matches if they can't afford a carer or if they are in pain," lamented one supporter who currently cannot resell their space.
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Another voiced their frustration: "There are so many matches that I can't go to, like evening matches. I know I can't go to some games, so I could lose lots of money."
Villa supporters have also expressed their fury over the ticket prices for the club's four Champions League league phase home matches this season, which were revealed earlier this week.
The most expensive adult ticket for non-season ticket holders is a whopping £97, while zones 1 and 2 are priced at £94. Adult tickets for zones 3 and 4 for non-season ticket holders come in at £85.
These tickets are £15 cheaper for those who hold a season ticket.
