Everton Hill Dickinson
A group of Brighton supporters encountered an unfortunate situation following their team’s match against Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. The fans, who traveled from Eastbourne to Merseyside, found themselves stranded after their car was towed, resulting in a significant expense to return home.
Rob Gellatly said: “We walked down the street and we thought we were just going to see the car and we realised that we walked past where we were parked. Then we thought we had gone down the wrong road until I got the location up on my phone of where the car had been parked and we realised it was gone. I went to speak to a police officer who said it must have been lifted. All our luggage was in the car. We’ll go down in history as not only the first away fans at the new stadium but the first ones to get their car towed.”
A Liverpool City Council spokesperson said: “There is signage in place on Carlton Street explaining that between the hours of 10am and midnight on event days, permits are required and non-permit holders can park for up to 2 hours. Blue badge holders are exempt from the two-hour limit. The road is also closed whenever a match is taking place as part of the wider event management plan. We will work with Everton FC’s traffic management contractor to look at whether more advance notice of road closures is required. Any decision to tow vehicles away is taken by Merseyside Police. Anyone travelling to a match is advised to use public transport wherever possible, or use city centre car parks or key transport hubs and connect via shuttle buses or trains. Further information on road closures can be found on Everton FC’s website.”
After Brighton’s 2-0 defeat to Everton, Rob Gellatly and his companions discovered their car missing from Carlton Street, where they had parked. Despite claims of no visible signage, Liverpool City Council confirmed that parking restrictions were in place on match days. The group was left with no choice but to spend another night in Liverpool and eventually pay £450 for a taxi back to Eastbourne.
The ordeal did not end there, as Rob faced additional costs to retrieve his impounded car, totaling nearly £300. Despite the challenges, the Brighton fans expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support they received from the local community. Rob highlighted the generosity of Liverpool residents, who offered assistance through social media, providing offers of drinks and breakfasts.
The incident underscores the importance of understanding local parking regulations and exploring alternative transportation options when attending large events. The council and Everton FC are considering measures to improve communication regarding parking restrictions and road closures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
About The Author
