Disability groups prepare legal action over decision to ban blue badge holders in parts of York
City of York Council claims the move is necessary to install security measures
Last updated 19th Nov 2021
Disability rights campaigners are launching a crowd funding page to back a possible legal challenge to York City Council’s decision to permanently close the extended footsteets.
The Council claim the measures are necessary to install security measures to help prevent a terrorist attack.
The move - banning blue badge holders on some of the city's pedestrianised streets - was first introduced, temporarily, in 2020 to encourage social distancing - however that measure has now become permanent.
But campaigners in York say the changes will effectively bar people with disabilities from the city centre.
Founder member of York Accessibility Action (YAA) Alison Hume - a mum of three including an adult son with autism and complex disabilities - says: “Enough is enough. The Council are not listening to us when we tell them about the misery inflicted on disabled residents and their families by the draconian footstreet closures. Maybe they will listen to us if we can prove they have discriminated against disabled people.
"We are delighted to have instructed the leading specialist disability discrimination lawyer Chris Fry to look into to whether we have a legal case. It does feel very David & Goliath but with Chris on our side, the devastating decision to permanently exclude disabled people from York may not be the end of the story.”
Another YAA member Natasha Rawnsley added: “I have a Blue Badge and haven’t been able to get into York since last autumn and can no longer access my bank on Market St. I used to visit City Screen for lunch and films but I can no longer do this. Parking on Goodramgate allowed me to access Bon Marche, King’s Square and even Petergate. I was able to get into York city centre but now it is is impossible for me”.
Alison concluded: "Our initial fundraising target is £5,000 to pay our specialist disability discrimination lawyers to explore whether we have a legal case to challenge the changes which threaten our human rights, independence and dignity.
"A quarter of all families in York have a relative who is disabled and many more are impacted by temporary physical limitations. I know there is huge groundswell of public support to make York worthy of its title as a Human Rights City. At the moment it is a byword for discrimination.”
A spokesperson for City of York Council said:
“The reports and last night’s discussion reflect the extensive considerations and extremely difficult decisions the council has to make in order to create a safe, accessible and thriving city centre.
“The council has a duty to protect the lives of residents and visitors, but we know that doing so as effectively as the police advise will have a significant impact on some blue badge holders.
“We have been listening to and discussing alternative access arrangements with blue badge holders for over two years.
“Proposals to improve access across the city include reintroducing blue badge access and parking on Castlegate from September, and invest in additional blue badge parking bays in the city centre.
“We have also committed to improve footways and access to toilets, install benches, create a new Access Officer role to lead on future access work, and explore the potential for an electric shuttle bus to help disabled people get into and around the city centre.
“We know that these measures will make a difference for many Blue Badge holders in the city and we will continue to engage with residents and partners on these issues.”
You can find out where blue badge holders can park here.