York Blue Badge ban protesters send messsage to voters

A small band of York Equal Access protestors demonstrated outside City of York Council's headquarters at West Offices yesterday (May 1) against the so-called Blue Badge ban.

Their aim was to send a clear message to the voters of York: “Don’t vote for any political party that supports discrimination against disabled people”.

The Lib Dem Green coalition that leads City of York Council says the ban is necessary to protect the city centre against terrorism incidents and that it has introduced measures to help disabled people.

A spokesman for the group said: "Since 2021 York city centre has been a no go area for disabled drivers that use a blue badge to gain access. The reason the council have given for restricting access to blue badge holders has evolved over time. At first the used the Covid 19 pandemic as an excuse, then as Covid 19 abated, the excuse was counter terrorism measures.

"The city council are now installing £3.5 million bollards to prevent access between 10am and 5pm, though it is assumed that vehicles like post office and money collection vans can still gain access.

"Rachel Maskell MP for York Central and Julian Sturdy MP for York Outer both disagree with the discrimination being carried out by the city council."

As The Press reported earlier today, Ms Maskell has revealed that officers from the currently Labour controlled Cheshire West and Chester council will meet with officers from the York council.

It comes as Labour MP for City of Chester Sam Dixon told the House of Commons last week in a debate arranged by Ms Maskell her local council had provided security measures and Blue Badge access for Chester city centre.

Ms Maskell said: “At long last, City of York Council are learning that they are out of step with their obligations to disabled people. In meeting with Chester next week, York officials have an opportunity to learn about the actions that the walled city of Chester has taken to make it both secure and accessible.

“I welcome this meeting between the councils on 10 May, and trust that this will be a turning point in this whole sorry affair. Disabled people must be listened to, which York’s current administration has failed to do."

Cllr Andy D'Agorne, leader of the Green Party in York, which has formed the ruling party on City of York Council with the Lib Dem group, said the Green Party was concerned about the negative impacts on some Blue badge holders of the current restrictions and was calling for a review into whether more access routes into the footstreets could be provided.

He said after the council elections on Thursday a report on a shuttle bus trial would be made public, allowing the new administration to make a decision on a trial. He said such a service could provide access during footstreet hours for more residents.

And he said there were many blue badge holders who use dial-a-ride, Shopmobility, or their own mobility aids to access the whole city centre during footsteet hours. 

Cllr D'Agorne added: "Greens are committed to ensuring all can enjoy access, within the protection provided by the anti-terror measures currently being installed along the lines advised by counter terrorism experts." 

York's Lib Dem group leader Cllr Nigel Ayre said strong advice was received from police and counterterrorism experts, advising the installation of security measures at key locations in the city centre to combat the threat of a vehicle-aided terror attack.

He said: “Anyone ignoring such advice now that it has been given to York by the police and security services would be responsible should any future attack occur, as has happened in a number of other cities across the world.

“We have pledged that the operation of such measures will remain under constant review.

"We fully recognise that this directly impacts residents with Blue Badges, so we will work to improve access across the city, including extra parking bays and dropped kerbs, and improvements to our historic streets.”

He added: “We have more recently changed the local guidance on the operation of café licenses to make the city centre more accessible, following engagement with disabled residents and access specialists.

“Blue badge holders are able to park on double yellow lines, in the city centre this includes College Green, Deans Court and the recently reopened Castlegate. It is so important to continue this dialogue with residents and businesses, all the while recognising the external pressure that certain duties, such as that to protect the right to life, put on the council.”