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Up to eight companies with car parks used by fans on match days around the stadium have been warned by City Council officials that they are breaking the law in allowing fans access to park their car on a match day.
Many of these car parks charge a fee for the service, which we understand breaks agreements made when these companies took up residence near Pride Park.
Officials from Derby County first alerted the City Council to a problem of leaving the Pride Park vicinity after matches. People were said to have complained to the club and often complained of having to wait an hour to leave the stadium area from the designated car park to the South of Pride Park stadium. This gridlock is said to be a potential hazard if there was a major incident at Pride Park stadium and emergency vehicles needed access to the area. This comes as a surprise to most as the tail back of traffic leaving the unofficial car parks has been there for at least the last five to six years and no complaint or incident has yet resulted in any emergency vehicle not being able to gain access.
It is understood that no action will be taken by the City Council on people using car parks that have been notified of the potential unlawful act of parking a car, but only for this Saturday's game. Companies have been warned by letter by the Council that if the practice continues they face legal action.
Now many hundreds of people will have to find alternative parking, which may see as unfair. Indeed a question must now be asked as to why dozens of buses parked on double yellow lines near the stadium and cars up toward the bridge heads to the A52 have been allowed to park for so many years, if it is indeed a hazard to people leaving the official car parks and stopping emergency vehicles gaining access.
Council officials are reported to be monitoring the car parks and traffic flow around the stadium this weekend. It will be interesting to see just which laws they implement and which will have a blind eye turned to.
All this just because some people can't wait, or think they have a right to immediate exit from the clubs official car park. The move may have a serious effect on the number of people willing or able to access Pride Park stadium if implemented. No thought ,as far as we know, has been given to the elderly, disabled and infirm people who regularly use the unofficial car parks near to the stadium.
On a lighter note Derby County would like to invite you to buy a pint of beer at their stadium for £2 before 2.15pm in an effort to get people to the ground earlier...........if you can park!..