Football stadium parking rules unfair, fans say

Fans using the club shop says the signs at the site are not visible enough

New parking restrictions at Oxford United's Kassam Stadium have been criticised by supporters for being unclear and unfair.

Car park management company Parkingeye was brought in to reduce over-stays and unwanted parking from people not using the stadium and leisure park.

But fans using the club shop have said the signs at the site are not visible enough, leading to unnecessary fines.

Parkingeye insisted the car park featured "prominent and highly-visible signs".

The new restrictions, which were introduced by landowner The Firoka Group of Companies, came into force in March.

Supporters visiting the ticket office or club shop are supposed to have a 20-minute grace period, which can be extended to up to four hours if vehicles are registered via a QR code.

Car park management company Parkingeye was brought in to reduce over-stays and unwanted parking

Season ticket holder Denise Moss said she popped into the shop to buy bucket hats ahead of last month's Wembley Stadium match.

She said she was prompted by the staff to register her vehicle, which she then attempted to do, but this appeared later not to have worked.

Ms Moss was then "shocked" to receive a parking fine two days later "for being 19 seconds over the 20-minute grace period".

She appealed the decision, providing photos of her purchases and the receipt, but was refused.

"I feel a little bit upset," she said. "Nineteen seconds isn’t a lot of time. Basically they don’t care.

"The signage needs to be a lot better."

'Silly fines'

Another fan who received a ticket described the scheme as a "ridiculous and total money-making scam".

A representative for the Oxford United Fans Page on Facebook told the BBC: "The amount of people who have said they’ve had problems is amazing... we want to encourage fans to come to the games, support Oxford, and buy the merchandise, but not be turned away because they’re getting these silly fines for attending."

The signs have been criticised by supporters for being unclear and unfair

A Parkingeye spokesperson said: "The car park at Kassam Stadium and leisure centre features prominent and highly-visible signs throughout providing information on how to use the car park responsibly.

"This includes guidance on how all motorists must enter their vehicle registration into the terminal or via a QR code at one of the onsite premises, in order to obtain a four-hour permit."

It said it operated a British Parking Association audited appeals process, and it encouraged people with mitigating circumstances "to highlight this by appealing and providing any supporting evidence".

Oxford United, and The Firoka Group of Companies, have been contacted for comment.

The Kassam Stadium has been the home of Oxford United since 2001. Plans for a new stadium are in motion after a legally-binding agreement between Oxfordshire County Council and the club was agreed.