Leeds United

Leeds United Football Club - Standing away fans onstructing wheelchair views

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Extract from a report by Amy Wilson DSA Chair for Everton concerning their visit to Elland Road on the 30^th August 2022 :-

• Stewards – Signage to where disabled away supporters needed to go to enter was pretty limited, to non-existent. Many stewards were unsure of where people needed to go and made disabled fans ask other stewards. One disabled Everton supporter was directed to the wrong part of the stadium despite making it clear he was an away supporter. The entrance he was told to use was inaccessible. He was then told leaving this part of the stadium would be difficult as the game had kicked off. Eventually, a head steward helped resolve the situation, but the supporter and his companion missed over 10 minutes of the match because of this.

• Accessible toilet – there was only one accessible toilet for home supporters in the South stand and the away fans in the West stand. At a guess, there was probably over 30 wheelchair user / easy access ticket holders located in these two areas of the stadium, which meant disabled supporters having to queue and wait to use the toilet, particularly at busier times i.e. before kick-off, at half-time and at the end of the match. The toilet door opened outwards as it should do with an accessible toilet, but as disabled fans were coming from both sides, the door opening in such a direction caused difficulties for those wheelchair users waiting to use the toilet. The person coming out of the toilet could only turn right and then had to close the door to go back to the West stand. It was all quite tight and awkward. Once inside the toilet, the transfer side was blocked by a bin and the toilet flush was very high up and on the far side of the cistern, making it difficult for some wheelchair users to reach.

• Access to the toilets – due to companions standing and a police and steward presence, access to the accessible toilet from the viewing platform in the West stand during the match itself was difficult. Access routes should be kept clear at all times, particularly as this route was the one to use in an emergency evacuation.

• Sightlines – Some disabled supporters sat in the West stand had poor sightlines, particularly of the near side of the pitch due to fans in front standing (see photographs above). A young Everton fan had to move to sit in another wheelchair user space away from the rest of the away support in order to have a better view. This area was above the segregation strip, so it had no fans below, sightlines from here were much better (see attached). This area was also a mix of home and away disabled supporters, which isn't ideal for either.

• Companion seating – Most wheelchair user spaces had companion seats located behind them and not adjacently. Most of the companions stood to see the game as they could not see from their designated seats due to either the wheelchairs or the fans standing in front. Many companions who were in the viewing platform above the segregation strip had no seats at all. One companion asked if he could have a fold-down seat as he has COPD and arthritis, so standing for so long was not something he could do and was told this wasn't possible.

• Concourse access – there was no access to the concourse for wheelchair users as it was not accessible. This was disappointing as it meant the wheelchair users could not meet up with friends, who in most cases they have not seen at the match for nearly 18 months. Companions were able to access the concourse, but making food and drink purchases was difficult because the ordering machines in place kept on breaking down and there was no other way to make orders. As disabled fans themselves cannot access the concourse directly, it would be ideal if the club offered an at-seat food/drink delivery. This service is available at Goodison Park and is well received by disabled fans, even if they can access the concourse.

After so long without going to an away match, the overall experience of Everton disabled fans from this match was one of disappointment as it felt the experience was not an enjoyable one, particularly with the obscured sightlines for the fans and companions. It also felt quite segregating too.

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Stuart is the DSA Chair of Leeds

Hi Stuart,

As you are aware there have been complaints over the years from disabled away supporters about the sightlines and facilities at Elland Road and I understand your frustration that you are constantly met with the answer “being redevelopment in the future”.

In my opinion there have been a number of breaches of the Equality Act 2010 under Section 20 for not making a “reasonable adjustment” for disabled supporters and I am willing to confront the club with such an accusation on behalf of the other 19 Premier League Clubs that will be visiting, however I will not do so without discussing this with you first and gain your agreement.

It could be that you could put my intent to the club which just might elicit a different response.

Level Playing field may well talk to the club again but will not join DAG in such an action. Again they will probably get the same response as you get - wait for the redevelopment!

Regrettably, in my 5 year experience of dealing with certain clubs, talking just doesn’t get any action. Action only occurs where legal or safety points are raised or they suffer bad publicity from an incident involving a disabled fan.

The potential breaches are -

• Not ensuring an unobstructed view for wheelchair users in the away end of the stadium.

• Not providing adequately for companion seating for wheelchair occupant support

• Not providing sufficient away end accessible toilet facilities

The question of providing a wheelchair ramp that does not meet the BSI gradient standard, thereby rending it unsafe for wheelchair use, is an issue for the Sports Ground Safety Authority who licence the stadium. We would ask for an SGSA inspector to audit.

Amy’s detailed report below on these areas of concern, together with the photos, provides adequate evidence on which to proceed.

Perhaps we could discuss this further with you.

Kind regards

David

Hi David,

Hope you’re well.

Owain and Liam have been copied on the email EDSA compiled yesterday. Please do feel free to bring this up with them in your meeting.

I’d be surprised if the ramp is less than 5% in terms of its gradient. I had to be backed down it in my wheelchair by my companion. One wheelchair user did a back-wheel wheelie to get down it on his own. One of the mobility scooter users couldn’t ascend it, but as the distance to the toilet wasn’t too great, he was able to park the scooter in an unused wheelchair user space and walk to the accessible toilet using his walking aid. The slope covers a slightly raised platform upon which the new facilities and amenities have been built upon.

I think clubs should liaise more with disabled fans for advice, but if you could see the new area, I am disappointed that no one from the club or the designers could see the difficulties this could cause.

Best wishes,

Amy

Amy Wilson

Fans Liaison, Access and Administration Officer| Centre for Access to Football in Europe (CAFE)

T : +44 (0)203 355 9867 | M: +44 (0)7960 579 305

E: amy@cafefootball.eu | Follow me on LinkedIn

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From: David Butler <david@justwebs.co.uk>

Sent: 06 September 2022 10:21

To: Amy Wilson <amy@cafefootball.eu>

Cc: tedmorrisldsa@gmail.com

Subject: RE: Leeds

Hi Amy,

Many thanks for your reply and for your observations.

May I share your response with Owain at our meeting tomorrow?

Maybe a joint approach to assist Stuart, with his approval and agreement, might help.

Regrettably to provide unobstructed views that mean reducing seat revenue by netting off or actual seat removal is always strongly resisted by the clubs.

Also the new ramp doesn’t sound as if it meets BSI Standards for ramp gradients! I feel the clubs miss a trick by not involving disabled supporters for practical advice when they are designing these facilities.

Kind regards

David

From: Amy Wilson <amy@cafefootball.eu>

Sent: 05 September 2022 17:25

To: David Butler <david@justwebs.co.uk>

Cc: tedmorrisldsa@gmail.com

Subject: RE: Leeds

Hi David,

I hope you are well and apologies for the lateness in replying, I hadn’t checked my emails over the weekend.

The issues with sightlines were highlighted to Leeds via LPF last season. From the correspondence received back from Owain, they never addressed the issues with him, despite Owain reiterating the concerns with them.

They stated they would be installing two new accessible toilets for use by home and away supporters sat in that end of the stadium, which they have done. They have also created a small tea bar. To access this area, disabled fans need to ascend a small, steep slope, which many of our wheelchair users found difficult to do independently. To carry drinks back from the tea bar to the seats would be nigh on impossible for many wheelchair users, particularly if they are hot drinks, if they want to make their own purchases.

Leeds stated they would be putting in a new platform with adjacent companion seating, which I think was in use, but can’t be totally sure of as the allocation we received was the same as last season. If the area I suspect was newer was used, the issues with sightlines existed there as well.

Best wishes,

Amy

Amy Wilson

Fans Liaison, Access and Administration Officer| Centre for Access to Football in Europe (CAFE)

T : +44 (0)203 355 9867 | M: +44 (0)7960 579 305

E: amy@cafefootball.eu | Follow me on LinkedIn

From: David Butler <david@justwebs.co.uk>

Sent: 02 September 2022 16:37

To: Amy Wilson <amy@cafefootball.eu>

Cc: tedmorrisldsa@gmail.com

Subject: Leeds

Hi Amy,

Had a long talk with Stuart today and he seems pretty resigned to nothing happening until a redevelopment occurs. Given the continuing problems that stance is not acceptable.

In a previous email you mentioned the following -

“We're also sharing details with LPF for them to take up with the club as they did last season.”

Do you know LPF reported back on any changes that were agreed with the club that they have obviously now reneged upon. Ted and I are meeting Owain and Tony next Wednesday and together we might help Stuart get some change.

Kind regards

David

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Hi Stuart,

I am emailing you as not all are on WhatsApp.

Even after previous serious incidents at clubs, no one has ever been able to make away fans sit. Fact of life. So we need alternative solutions to give unobstructed views to disabled supporters.

Regrettably I can list you no end of clubs who declare that all will be well when they redevelop their stands, I remember in 2017 Chelsea promising a new £4billion stadium to EHRC!

I always discuss interim measures with these clubs -

1. Netting off one or two rows in front of the disabled areas is the simplest solution– number depends upon the rake of the stand but sufficient to lower the heads of the standing supporters so the disabled folks have a clear view.

2. Risers – These are fine providing that you, a) have enough room for the length of a ramp that meets BSI gradient requirements and

b) there are no supporters behind who would be obstructed. Such a solution often reduces the number of disabled places available.

Both of these solutions are frequently rejected as they require seat removals. Known provocatively by the clubs as “Seat kill” as the revenue is then permanently lost from these seats.

You are aware that to add one wheelchair position plus a carer alongside can require the removal of between 9 and 12 seats and with an elevation of 1 meter, the ramp can lose up to another 70 / 80 seats.

However currently there is no definition of “elevated” – it could 1 inch or 1 metre. This is why the definition of “Elevated” is so important as in the ASGs, 75% of both wheelchair positions and ambulant seating must be elevated. The revised ASG2 must define “Elevated” so we can leverage it with non compliant clubs.

If you wish Stuart, I will gladly raise the issue with senior Leeds management or directly support you in doing so.

Kind regards

David

PS Many thanks for the photos and the report Amy.