The venue for a full City of York Council meeting will leave disabled councillors without adequate hearing loops and having to navigate an unfit, narrow entrance and uneven floors, opposition groups claimed.

Liberal Democrat opposition group leader Cllr Nigel Ayre said the decision to hold the meeting at the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall failed to take disabled attendees’ accessibility needs into account.

Conservative group leader Cllr Chris Steward said the decision to hold the meeting in the 14th Century building due to York’s Christmas Market had not been properly planned for.

A council spokesperson said the venue had been chosen due to restrictions in Blue Badge parking during the market, with assistance set to be on hand to help with access.

It comes ahead of the full council meeting at 6.30pm today (Thursday, November 21).

The meetings, where all councillors hear reports from the authority’s executive and debate motions among other business, are usually held in The Guildhall, off St Helen’s Square.

The Merchant Adventurers' Hall, seen from Piccadilly, in York. Picture is from Google Street ViewThe Merchant Adventurers' Hall, seen from Piccadilly, in York. Picture is from Google Street View

But restrictions Blue Badge parking restrictions in place during the Christmas Market prompted the move to the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall.

The Grade I-listed medieval guildhall, off Fossgate, is still used by York’s Company of Merchant Adventurers while also serving as a museum and event space.

The council’s spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) an accessibility review of the venue found there would be no significant barriers to disabled attendees.

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But Cllr Ayre said the decision meant disabled councillors would have to travel from the council’s West Offices headquarters after group meetings across York to the venue in an hour.

The Liberal Democrat leader added the nearest available parking would be more than 300m away and it would not be available during the meeting.

In a letter to council officials, the opposition leader said: “If you had consulted all disabled councillors you would have found out that the hearing loop installed in the proposed venue is not adequate enough for councillors to hear.

Cllr Nigel AyreCllr Nigel Ayre

“The meeting room does not have level access and disabled councillors will be asked to use a separate entrance.

“The entrance in question is narrow and unlit and the floors are sloping and uneven and a hazard for councillors with visual impairments.

“By not consulting with these councillors, you have put them in an impossible position of choosing whether to attend a full council where they cannot participate and represent their residents or not to attend at all.”

Conservative group leader Cllr Steward said the predictable timing of the Christmas Market meant the meeting should have been planned well in advance rather than rushing the choice of venue.

The Conservative said: “Even after the council discovered its own Christmas Market would be held at Christmas, the venue moving could have all been avoided by delaying council’s start time by one hour.

“This would have meant a slightly later finish for staff well used to council meetings finishing beyond 10pm, with by-election and Neighbourhood Plan counts going beyond midnight and broader election counts lasting to 5am.

“It is extremely poor that the council is moving the meeting to a venue which is an amazing place but is simply not right for a council meeting, given issues like disabled parking and acoustics.”

The council’s spokesperson said the authority was committed to ensuring the democratic process was open to all and to improving accessibility across the board.

The spokesperson said: “The council has carried out an accessibility review of the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall and is confident that with additional assistance which will be on-hand for the meeting, there are no significant barriers that would prevent disabled councillors and members of the public taking part in the meeting.

“Additionally, the meeting will be webcast live for anyone who is unable to attend in person.”