Blue badge holders have been warned they face severe parking restrictions in a major city this Christmas period.
Drivers with blue badges will be banned from accessing York city centre during the Christmas Market period, sparking outrage among disability rights campaigners.
The ban, which will be in effect from 10.30am to 7pm daily between November 14 and December 22, has been criticised for breaching the rights of disabled residents.
City of York Council explained that contractual arrangements for this year’s Christmas Market were too advanced to make changes. However, they expressed hope that blue badge holders would be allowed access next year.
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The council hopes Blue Badge holders could be allowed to park next year
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But the move has already been met with fury from blue badge holders with one activist, slamming the decision, stating: “It was accepted that our human rights are being breached during the permanent ban, so my question is how is it okay to breach them and exclude us during the five weeks that the Christmas markets are on.”
The controversial move has also drawn criticism from local community centres, with concerns raised about the impact on disabled residents’ ability to access vital services.
Councillor Kate Ravilious said: “We had hoped to allow blue badge holders access to the city centre throughout the Christmas Market, but unfortunately arrangements for the market this year were contractually too far advanced earlier in the year to make the changes that would allow this to happen safely.
“When we reopened these important routes, we were clear that at extremely busy times, we’d have to consider temporarily closing them. The popular Christmas Markets are one such time.”
James Gilchrist, the council’s director of transport, environment and planning, noted that alternativeparking options are available near the city centre.
The ban has raised concerns about its impact on disabled residents and local community centres.
One person expressed: “So disabled and elderly visitors and residents not welcome in the Christmas period then. Nice bit of disability discrimination there.”
Someone else shared on social media they were not surprised by the move just more disappointed at the “total disregard for residents, disabled and able-bodied as usual”.
The added: “Enjoy your tourist trap markets excluding disabled residents. I don’t know what the solution to this is. If footfall is very high. Seems like an impossible situation. How could it work?”
The City of York Council has outlined alternative options for blue badge holders during the Christmas Market period.
Gilchrist explained that blue badge holders can continue to park near the city centre, using the bays available on Duncombe Place and Piccadilly, and on double yellow lines, where this does not cause an obstruction.
He added that blue badge holders can use parking spaces on Tower Street and in Castle Car Park, as well as other council car parks, for unlimited periods.
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The Christmas market will take place in the city centre
OXFORD CHRISTMAS MARKET
The council did note that it is committed to working with Make it York to find a way to welcome blue badge holders to the Christmas Market next year and beyond.
