Council plans would leave disabled people worse off

City of York Council has been told to rethink a scheme that would see more parts of the city centre pedestrianised by a human rights group.

York Human Rights City Network have advised the council that limiting access to vehicles could prevent disabled people from reaching vital services, such as banks.

In a statement, the network said it had "looked carefully" at the proposals and concluded the human rights approach had "not been adopted" in the current plans.

The council wants to keep limitations that were brought in during the pandemic in place for the future, to create a "more attractive" city centre.

But disabled groups in the city have already complained about the proposed Footstreets scheme, and this report has found it would have a "detrimental effect" on disabled people.

Examples of those effects include a 90-year-old disabled woman would be left with a 36 mile round trip to her nearest accessible bank branch and anxious people being left without safe spaces.

The report also gave an example of the autistic son of a disabled woman refuses to enter any vehicle other than hers.

Recommendations to City of York Council include "freezing" the scheme and reinstating some Blue Badge parking.

On it's website, the council said the scheme creates a "safer and more attractive" city centre and reduces pollution.

But it said it also understands some disabled people would be affected by the scheme.

The council recently made a u-turn on banning two disabled councillors from taking part in a debate on the plans, after they were told they may have a prejudicial interest.