Feature

Liverpool to improve Anfield’s disabled facilities

English Premier League football club Liverpool has confirmed plans to make further improvements to facilities for disabled supporters at its Anfield stadium.

The club confirmed that “significant” redevelopment work would begin following the conclusion of the 2016-17 season in May and would be completed in time for the 2017-18 campaign.

Over 250 wheelchair positions will be made available for disabled supporters, while away fans will benefit from improved viewing positions. New raised disabled bays at Anfield’s Centenary Stand will also be fitted.

Away supporters will be seated in the away section for the first time. Structural improvements will also include lift shafts, the removal of structural walls, the recasting of ramps to more accessible gradients and the conversion of lounge space into raised disabled seating areas.

About 1,000 general admission seats will be impacted by the redevelopment. The club has committed to the plans after working closely with the official supporters’ committee and Liverpool Disabled Supporters Association.

“The LDSA and supporters’ committee are fully supportive of our planned approach and the progress that’s been made recently,” Liverpool’s operations director, Andrew Parkinson, said. “This latest redevelopment work means further significant construction is planned at Anfield this year and we are working with the city’s licensing and planning teams to ratify the proposals.

“Making these further developments this summer will see Anfield Stadium achieving the required number of wheelchair positions as stated in the Accessible Stadia Guide.

“The work will mean that some season ticket-holders in general admission seats will be affected by the changes and we will work with them on finding an alternative seat. We will be in touch with those directly affected and we thank them for their understanding.”

Liverpool was recently ranked as the top Premier League club in the VisitFootball accessibility assessment, which looke at the experience and service provided to disabled supporters, for the fourth year running.

Liverpool’s Premier League rival, Manchester United, recently revealed plans to add 300 new positions for disabled fans at its Old Trafford stadium. Work is due to be completed by August and will require 2,600 season ticket-holders to move seats over the next three years while the spaces are phased in. Old Trafford’s stadium capacity will be reduced from 75,000 to approximately 73,300 as part of the redevelopment.

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