Thurston man slams Ipswich Borough Council for car park price hikes for Ipswich Town FC home games
A man has slammed a council for introducing ‘opportunistic’ price changes to car parking for Ipswich Town home games – which he felt was ‘taking advantage’ of supporters.
David Boor, of Thurston, who has held a season ticket for the Tractor Boys since the 1970s, believes a price hike for Portman Road B car park was ‘appalling’ in the lead up to Christmas.
Ipswich Borough Council has said its long stay car parks in Portman Road, West End Road and Princes Street will see a new £15 tariff on home match days, more than doubling its current price of £7 for the day.
The charge, which begins three hours before kick off and end one hour after the final whistle, comes into effect on December 3 – the day The Blues face off against Crystal Palace.
Mr Boor said: “There’s been a complete lack of thought put into this. It’s annoying, has been done on short notice and with little consideration for sports fans. I think it’s opportunistic of the council.
“Ipswich Town should be a Suffolk club and it shouldn’t just be IP1 that they focus on. Some of us don’t live in Ipswich and have to drive. And public transport is rubbish.
“While it is nice to see Ipswich back up in the top tier of football where we belong, it’s the little things that make up the match day experience – and it’s getting expensive. They’re taking advantage of supporters.
“Traffic and parking can already be awful and this will push people further and further out of town to search for alternatives at a reasonable price.
“I think people will pay it, but they’re being rinsed. Many are struggling right now, and over the next few years, they will have less money in their pocket.”
Mr Boor felt Town fans were being pushed away in favour of ‘tourists’ who attend the game simply because Ipswich were in the Premier League.
He felt there was a ‘complete lack of passion and affinity’ for the club.
However, Mr Boor called on the council to do more to help supporters on match days.
He said: “It would be alright if they offered more buses or signposted alternative car parks, but this is not happening.
“Something about it doesn’t seem quite right. I want to know what they are going to use the money for.”
Cllr Jane Riley, from Ipswich Borough Council, gave a statement on the reasons for the new tariff.
She said: “There is significant congestion in the area around the Portman Road stadium when there is a home match being played.
“The new tariff of £15 on home match days only applies at our long stay car parks situated on Portman Road, Princes Street, and West End Road, for the period starting three hours before kick-off to one hour after kick-off.
“Those prepared to pay the premium will have parking very close to the stadium while the charge may also encourage local fans to travel to games via other means such as park & ride, bus, cycling or walking.
“Premium tariffs are common at car parks close to other Premier League grounds on home match days, with some venues charging up to £37 per day.”
This came alongside sweeping changes to services in Ipswich, including council-run leisure centres shutting for one day per week.
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