NeilWatson

Change.org is a well established site for these things but I am surprised how clunky it really is. It is possible to decline their suggestions of payment etc via a link at the end of each page of the voting process. The BSF was becoming so polluted by the idiot poster I wanted to focus on the issue.

I was aware of the possible downside, but what’s the alternative? Do nothing and that’s rarely my style. Let’s hope that your words prompt people to sign!

The change.org site is much clunkier than I imagined, please post on this thread too if you support the petition as I don’t think a number of ‘votes’ have registered. Thanks

I have started a new thread in the Premiership section titled Peterborough Speedway Disabled Parking 2020, introducing a petition via change.org. Link to other thread Please all look at the thread and support it if you can - the more signatures the petition gains the better as it will show just how much this new situation affects dedicated Panthers fans. Thanks for reading.

I have split this topic from the Peterborough 2020 thread. I have created a petition on change.org https://www.change.org/PeterboroughSpeedwayDisabledParking2020 and urge as many of you as possible to sign the petition if you support its content and aims. it is a respectful, constructive petition, and makes no threats or demands, simply urging the Promotion to look at the situation again from the perspective of a Blue-Badge holder. Thanks for reading

I believe the poster is referring to all the trolling posts diluting a very important subject

The Chairman of Peterborough’s Supporters Club is a member of this forum - providing a shuttle service for disabled fans would be an ideal project for their fundraising if there is not to be a U-turn by the Promotion. I know the local Dial a Ride service were involved previously, Steve Dolby would know more details.

Let’s look at some extracts from the Government publication ‘Who can get a Blue Badge’ You automatically qualify for a Blue Badge if you are over 2 years old and at least one of the following applies: 1. you receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) 2. you receive a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) because you can’t walk more than 50 metres (a score of 8 points or more under the ‘moving around’ activity of the mobility component) 3. you are registered blind (severely sight impaired) 4. you receive a War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement 5. you have received a lump sum benefit within tariff levels 1-8 of the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation) Scheme and have been certified as having a permanent and substantial disability which causes inability to walk or very considerable difficulty in walking You may be eligible for a badge if one or more of the following applies: 1. you cannot walk at all 2. you cannot walk without help from someone else or using mobility aids 3. you find walking very difficult due to pain, breathlessness or the time it takes 4. walking is dangerous to your health and safety I wonder if this information has been taken into account by the Peterborough promotion when overturning a system that has worked for many years. The closest distance from the imposed new parking area exceeds 300m, this is more than SIX times the distance referred to in 2 above. This is a real issue and will affect a significant number of fans. Mimmo has estimated the lost income up-thread, but the biggest loss is to the fans, mainly long-term, dedicated fans, who won’t be able to watch speedway in 2020.

Closer access is required by the ambulant disabled with limited mobility. If a disabled person has 'wheels' a longer distance may be possible. However for both groups bear in mind the ground conditions - from Gate 3 a mixture of grass, gravel and tarmac. Add in the poor light at night and you're making it very difficult for the disabled.

I'm delighted to see that Team GB are sponsored by Europe’s leading wheelchair accessible vehicle supplier. Good to see that at national level disabled drivers aren't forgotten........ Here's the link to today's press release - Team GB

Just block him Mike and ignore him - he's the current BSF moron and not worth wasting time on. Hope you're both OK

The difference between the BBC and Peterborough Speedway:The BBC has suspended the closure of its Red Button text service after protests, a day before it was due to have started being phased out.The news comes days after a petition, organised by the National Federation of the Blind of the UK (NFBUK), was handed in to the BBC and Downing Street.The service was due to have been closed over the next few weeks.BBC director general Tony Hall said he would examine the concerns and make "a fresh decision" in the spring.The NFBUK called the news "fantastic" and said it was looking forward to working with Mr Collins, the BBC and the British Deaf Association "for a better resolution".Its petition expressed concerns that the removal of the service would "leave many people, who are already vulnerable, further isolated and marginalised from society". In a letter to Damian Collins MP, Lord Hall said the BBC had heard from organisations, MPs and members of the public about its decision to phase out the service."People have expressed their concern that the closure of Red Button text service could negatively affect elderly people and people with disabilities," the letter read."These are issues which I feels [sic] deserve to be explored in more depth... so we have decided to suspend its closure pending further work in that area."Lord Hall said the service would continue "as close as possible to its current state for the time being".His pledge was echoed by Matthew Postgate, the BBC's chief technology and product officer, who said the corporation would "listen carefully and with an open mind to the views which have been expressed".

While a set-down/pick-up area hasn’t been mentioned as far as I know, it could double the perceived vehicle/pedestrian conflict. It would also require each vehicle to contain one+ disabled and at least one able-bodied, which I suspect would rarely be the case. Harsh for solo fans too.

It's certainly been done in the past

I certainly did, at Peterborough, Kings Lynn and Mildenhall, Cliff is full of knowledge and stories! It was my pleasure to arrange their close parking in 2018 (and 2014 I expect) when I was Promoter at Peterborough.

Please pass my regards on to your parents Kevin, I always enjoyed their company whenever I saw them around the East Anglian tracks.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-courts/discrimination/what-are-the-different-types-of-discrimination/duty-to-make-reasonable-adjustments-for-disabled-people/

From www.peterborough-speedway.com New parking restrictions for Disabled parking for the 2020 season: The Peterborough promotion have taken the decision to use the Showground’s official disabled parking areas that are situated at the nearest point of entry to the Peterborough Showground venue. This decision hasn’t been taken lightly and is due to a number of situations. Due to the death of a close colleague at a race venue towards the end of last year, we have made a conscious decision to restrict the amount of vehicle movement within the Showground on a race night. Peterborough Speedway runs alongside a number of events at the Showground every season, and when these events clash we have to move our disabled parking facility to a different location within the Showground on these occasions. We had a number of blue badge holders not using the allocated parking areas correctly and they felt the need to park in other areas that blocked emergency access roads and Public byways. This is a Health and Safety issue within the Showground. A number of our volunteer car parking staff have been verbally abused when confronting owners of cars parked outside the designated parking areas. We respect the fact that the above hasn’t been caused by everyone issued with a blue badge, and we do also know and understand this decision affects everyone that will attend our race meetings that are issued with a blue badge. We have over the years made preservations for internal disabled parking but unfortunately we cannot carry this on, and we will use the official disabled parking that is used at all Showground events. Sorry for the inconvenience but we hope everyone understands the situation

On 27th November, the draw was announced as: ROUND 1 DRAW: Poole v Edinburgh, Leicester v Berwick, Birmingham v Redcar, Somerset v Glasgow. Byes: Eastbourne, Kent, Newcastle, Scunthorpe. QUARTER-FINAL DRAW: Scunthorpe v Kent, Birmingham/Redcar v Poole/Edinburgh, Somerset/Glasgow v Leicester/Berwick, Eastbourne v Newcastle. The fixtures released on 23rd January appear to show: ROUND 1 DRAW: Newcastle v Edinburgh, Leicester v Berwick, Birmingham v Redcar, Somerset v Glasgow. Byes: Eastbourne, Kent, Poole, Scunthorpe. QUARTER-FINAL DRAW: Scunthorpe v Kent, Birmingham/Redcar v Newcastle/Edinburgh, Somerset/Glasgow v Leicester/Berwick, Eastbourne v Poole.

Also poorly lit. Unless the health and safety worries banish ALL non-essential vehicles from the Showground there will still be pedestrian conflict with moving traffic (especially when using Gate 3) - but now it will be people with poor mobility trying to avoid the vehicles.

Only one? info@peterborough-speedway.com? If so maybe you've been blocked.....

If anyone is trying to visualise the proposed Blue Badge parking at the Showground in 2020, I have attached a rough sketch below. Based on Google Earth's mapping tool, the approximate distances are as follows: Gate 3 parking to middle of Grandstand - 380m Gate 5 parking to middle of Grandstand - 325m Once a disabled person starts their journey there is nowhere to sit, rest or break the walk - other than collapsing onto the ground. For comparision, the Blue Badge parking in 2019 was approx 150m from the Grandstand. In 2018 we allowed Blue Badge holders to park immediately behind the Grandstand if their mobility needs justified it

It seems to me that if there was an intention to provide the shuttle service that is so sorely needed to replace the close parking it would have been mentioned in the same Press Release. Its absence suggests either it’s not been considered or it’s been ruled out sadly.

When I was a season-ticket holder in the early noughties I submitted a copy of my Blue Badge with the season ticket application. The badges do have the holder’s name on the face.

Thanks for the kind words, sorry you weren't 100% convinced but my Mum is my greatest fan anyway! It seems quite legitimate to ensure that the correct person is benefitting from Blue Badge parking concessions.