Parking Row Rumbles On

Last updated : 04 January 2006 By Covsupport

The row over parking by supporters attending City's 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday rumbles on. Over two hundred parking tickets were issued before and during the game by parking wardens especially bused in with tickets issued as early as forty five minutes before kick off.

Wolves supporters have told us that police motorcyclists were present when many parked on the A444 and at no time were they told they could not park there. An announcement was made during the game for supporters to remove their cars but when supporters did return they found their vehicles hit with a ticket. A police officer at the scene told one supporter: "I symphathise with you mate but I am under instructions from the council."

Covsupport has also received complaints regarding comments made in the Coventry Evening Telegraph about this preventable episode. The newspaper in its editorial said that the £60 parking ticket for those who parked where they weren not supposed to, served supporters right. Complainees have hit back accusing the CET of "presenting a biased view" and "making comments in keeping with a newspaper dictated to by the local council and police force"

A lack of information given to supporters when buying their match ticket seems to be one of the main reasons why some supporters parked on the A444 and in other roads inside the Council set exclusion zone. Covsupport is backing calls for all away supporters to be given the proper information to ensure that they park in the designated areas.

It was not a good day for The Compass Group who have the contract to supply catering at the Arena with food supplies running out before half-time and huge congestion in the concourse.