Christmas market start time change mooted

The council accepted a police request for a ban on vehicles entering city centre streets during the market last month

A delay to the opening time of York's Christmas Market is being considered to ease the impact on blue badge holders.

The city council is considering moving the daily start of the market by 30 minutes to 10:30 to give disabled people more time to get in and out of the city.

It follows approval of a police request for an Anti-Terror Traffic Regulation Order (ATTRO) during the event.

The current order means all vehicles, except those belonging to the emergency services, will be barred on city centre streets between 10:00 and 19:00.

North Yorkshire Police's Chief Constable Tim Forber said the measures were needed to deter vehicle attacks which had targeted Christmas markets and other mass gatherings elsewhere.

However, disabled people told a council meeting last month it would restrict their ability to visit the city centre, access its services, shop and socialise in the run up to Christmas.

The leader of the Labour-run authority Claire Douglas said they had no choice but to approve the police request, thought the decision raised concerns about the long-term future of the event.

The council is trying to find solutions to permit disabled people to access the city centre during the market

The council's executive will consider measures to mitigate the impact on blue badge holders later, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Proposals include the delay to the market opening times and to convert a loading bay in Duncombe Place into temporary blue badge spaces.

A report on the latest proposals stated £5,000 would also be given to the Shopmobility charity, supporting the equivalent of between 277 and 625 equipment hires.

All local badge holders would be informed of the measures if they were approved and they would be directed to additional resources and online support.

The executive will also consider exemptions to the ATTRO for council waste collection and disposal vehicles along with essential deliveries such as the Royal Mail.

A sweep of the area covered by the order would take place every morning before the start of the event, with any drivers found there instructed to leave before 10.30.

Any vehicles left within the area after that could receive a penalty charge notice (PCN) and towed for violating the waiting and loading ban.

The council is to review the annual event early in 2026

Councillors are set to review arrangements for future Christmas markets and other city centre events early next year.

A report said it played a significant role in supporting the city's economy but important sections of the community were being stopped from fully accessing the city centre during the event.

It also said residents and businessses faced broader disruption during the market.

The report stated that while the postives of the event outweighed the negatives on balance, the event could be improved.

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