Football fans were left stranded in one of Shrewsbury’s Park and Ride car parks after returning from a game to find the barriers locked and their cars stuck inside.At least 10 motorists could not get their vehicles out after security officers closed the barriers because of a “communication issue”.
Some drivers even had to squeeze through a small gap in a fence to escape.
The fans had left their cars at the Harlescott site to take the bus to watch Shrewsbury Town play Championship team Blackpool last Friday.
Part of the club’s promise when it built the stadium at Oteley Road was to encourage use of alternative transport such as Park and Ride.
But borough council officials responsible for the gates, today said nobody had told them an extra bus would be running that night.
Margaret Davies, 49, of Mill Street, Wem, whose Corsa was trapped in the car park, said at least 10 cars were trapped.
She said: “I was lucky enough in my smaller car to squeeze through a gap in the wooden fence up a pavement by the Tesco petrol station but the bigger cars were not so lucky.
“Don’t these people communicate, especially when the Park and Ride was open to take us to the stadium, or did they think we were staying the night?”
SABC parking and transport officer Doug Hosking said: “Unfortunately, no-one booked the bus on to that site for the football match with SABC so we could not organise the opening or closing of the Park and Ride so it was basically a communication issue.”
County council communications officer for transport and highways Jennifer Full- ard said: “We have looked into last Friday’s Park and Ride arrangements.
“However, SABC retains responsibility for the Park and Ride site and the locking of the gates. We have discussed this matter with the borough council in order to improve communications and to prevent this happening in the future.”
Shrewsbury Town general manager John Harris said the club always got permission to use Park and Ride for match days and there had been no problems before.
He said: “Obviously there has been a communication problem. Obviously we are disappointed that any of our supporters had an issue with getting to or from the game.”
By Rebecca Lawrence
One Comment
Typical council attitude………blame someone else. I travel 70/80 miles to watch Salop play at the Prostar but I can’t even park my car when I get to within 2/3 miles of the ground it is absolutely ridiculous. Sometimes I wonder why I bother with this country is an absolute shambles and they just sum it up.