Campaigners welcome end of disabled parking ban

The lifting of the city centre ban on disabled parking came into force on Thursday

Campaigners have welcomed the lifting of parking restrictions for disabled drivers in the centre of York.

The city council's previous administration banned blue badge parking in pedestrianised parts of the city centre in 2021 as an anti-terrorism measure.

A decision to reverse the move came into force on Thursday.

One woman, whose petition against the ban drew 2,000 signatures, said it had been a "long, hard road" to achieve the change.

Campaigner Alison Hume, who is also Labour's next Parliamentary candidate for the Scarborough and Whitby constituency, told BBC Radio York: "For some people, a car is is a mobility aid and people need to remember that.

"This is a city for everyone, not just those who are able-bodied."

The restrictions were first introduced in 2019 and later made permanent in 2021 by the council's ruling Liberal Democrat/Green coalition.

The ban has now been reversed by York's current Labour administration, which took control of the council last year.

Blue badge holders will now be able to access the city centre via Goodramgate.

They can then drive along Goodramgate, and out via the bollards at Colliergate.

Disability rights campaigner and councillor Jane Burton said it was "wonderful" the ban had been reversed

Under the new arrangements, they will be expected to present a valid blue badge to barrier staff.

Disability rights campaigner and Labour councillor Jane Burton said: "This has been a misery for disabled people - a discrimination that should never have been allowed to happen.

"It's wonderful that we're now back in the city centre where we live, work and play. It was terrible to be shut out and not be able to go into town and do all the things we've done all our lives."

Nigel Ayre, leader of the opposition Liberal Democrat group, previously said the advice the council had been given about the terror threat had been clear.

Mr Ayre said: "This was never a policy choice. It shouldn't have been made a political football and it was, and remains, a gravely serious issue."

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