Sorry General, but another (I think very justified) moan on the subject of car parking! I am ambulant disabled and in the summer I renewed my parking permit for the Tram Museum over the phone. Then, a few days before the Inter Milan game the permit comes through, but for Yew Tree School as the Tram Museum is being re-developed, so it says. The letter said some people would be moved to Villa Village (less walking), some could stay in the Tram Museum and some would be moved to Yew Tree School (more walking).
I emailed the ticket office as I am fed up with not being able to get through on the phone asking if there was any chance I could be moved nearer as every step I take is either uncomfortable or painful. I am also at far greater risk of my knees giving way and falling over due to the extra walking. I pointed out that surely when moving people your medical needs should be considered. Also, it is often far easier for someone in a wheelchair to travel a certain distance than it is for an ambulant disabled person, yet this seems to be have been ignored, and wheelchairs (even motorised ones) always get preferential treatment. Having not received the courtesy of an acknowledgement or a reply after 2 weeks, I again asked for a reply last Wednesday and again nothing.
I have been attending Villa Park since the early 1970's and I have not missed a single home game in my nine years as a season ticket holder, and I do not believe this is the way to treat a loyal fan. I cannot change to a wheelchair as I was told there is a 3 year waiting list at least for wheelchair places. If Villa would rather not have ambulant disabled fans attend Villa Park, then they should say so.
To make things worse, I was speaking to a guy yesterday who also parked in the Tram Museum last season. He has been allowed to stay there at present and he said that yesterday the Tram Museum car park was fuller than he had seen before. Therefore, I have been forced to move from my car park with the resultant extra discomfort and pain for who exactly? Maybe the corporate prawn sandwich brigade, as I cannot see any other reason.
I know this is not your area General, and I am a very laid back guy who does not like to complain, but I think my treatment has been very poor and either nobody bothers to check ticketsales@avfc.co.uk email or they just wilfully ignore the emails!
For the record, I would be more than happy to wait in the Villa Village car park for 30 minutes after every game if I was given the opportunity to park there to save the extra discomfort and pain!