New wheelchair section ready Posted: Fri 12 Jul 2013 Author: Adam Baker Disabled Section Disabled Section Image by: bcfc.co.uk Club improves disabled facilities at Ashton Gate. A brand new wheelchair area will be open for disabled City fans in Williams Block F for this Saturdayâs game. The new platform, dedicated to the memory of former fan of the year Ian Cottle, will accommodate up to 13 wheelchair-using City fans, who will enjoy a much improved view. It will be officially opened before the game against Bradford City on August 3rd, but finishing touches were being made today to ensure it ready to be used for the pre-season friendly with Rangers tomorrow. With the Wedlock stand closed to home supporters, and with some regular East Enders expected to gather in this area of the Williams, the club asks them to make sure that they do not block the view of fellow City fans by standing in the rows immediately in front of the platform.
As someone who has briefly spent time in a wheelchair, I can say that facilities everywhere are less than ideal. Anything the club can do to accommodate those with disabilities is welcomed in my eyes, and to be frank I think such a change should have happened much sooner.
Working for a charity in that field I would question if it is the best position [next to away fans/lads block].
As an often Scooter/chair bound supporter I'm happy to be as close to the home end as I can be just because I'm in a chair it doesn't stop me being as noisy and passionate as any other in my support.
I welcome the new wheelchair section as a small step in the right direction. When I was secretary of the Bristol City Football Council in the early 1990's, we tried to get the club to incorporate a similar wheelchair section in the yet to be built Atyeo stand, but the club refused and stuck in the "worms eye" view section instead. Twenty years on well done BCFC!
It is not close to the home end. That section historically has seen more than a few violent incidents ... The disabled section in front of the Atyeo is often used by the vulnerable with physical disabilities [One wheelchair user I know on a professional basis]. If I was to risk assess each section of the ground I would place this new area as the section of "highest risk" in the stadium. Creating a disabled section in an area of the ground, which is often barely inhabited baring obvious games e.g Cardiff, Leeds Millwall ... Does not promote social inclusion.
it will only be next to the away fans for a season at the end of the season the east end will be no more and the risk of trouble next season is small
The raised section in the Williams will be existence for several seasons. The risk is still elevated above what it would be at the other end of the Williams, the Atyeo and Dolman. Would other sections of Ashton Gate encourage more social inclusion & engage people with disabilities more? Almost certainly, its hard to engage with empty seats. its hard to build relationships with non disabled people in a section of a stadium that is often nearly empty. So I would question how meaningful putting this section into an area of the stadium barely anybody uses is. Bath City have a disabled section isolated from the rest of the ground. I supported an individual there, he disliked it, hardly a suprise, it does not assist in normalisation either.
I think they will end up having to be noisy and passionate on their own. You can count how many are in E/F many games. E/F is in respects second choice and second best after the Eastrend for noise. This will probably mean zero tolerance to standing meaning fans will go elsewhere for the games where E/F act as an Eastend alternative, they already are today.
