Christmas market threat over blue badge access

All vehicles except those belonging to emergency services will be barred from city centre streets for the duration of the Christmas market (stock image)

The future of York's Christmas market could be in doubt if blue badge holders continue to be barred from the city centre, senior councillors have said.

Authority leader Claire Douglas said the authority had effectively had no choice but to accept a police request for an anti-terror ban which would be in place for the duration of the market from 13 November to 21 December.

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

The decision was criticised by disabled people, some who said the measures would leave them making potentially harmful public transport journeys.

The Labour-run authority relaxed a ban on blue badge holders during last year's event but North Yorkshire Police has since gained powers to draw up and request the Anti-Terror Traffic Regulation Order (ATTRO), which was approved at a meeting on Tuesday.

It came after the force's Chief Constable Tim Forber wrote to the council last month saying the order was needed to protect against vehicle attacks targeting mass gatherings including Christmas markets.

'Human rights issues'

Criticising the measures, Bigby Waterson, a disabled person who runs a trans and non-binary support group, said: "If we can't use private adapted vehicles then people like myself who are immunocompromised are left having to take the bus and risking catching something really serious.

"Disabled people aren't something to be tidied away when we have to make way for consumerism."

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the meeting heard discussions had been ongoing since to try and accommodate blue badge holders and others such as pharmacy couriers and council waste vehicles.

However, council deputy leader Pete Kilbane said: "If we can't find a way of allowing all residents and visitors to come and enjoy the Christmas market then its future is in doubt.

"I don't see how we could justify putting on an event that excludes residents, this throws up serious human rights issues."

Ch Insp Ryan Chapman, from North Yorkshire Police, told the meeting exceptions would allow a terrorist to get a blue badge to drive into York during the event, with devastating results.

He said: "Determined terrorists will seek to exploit any vulnerabilities to carry out an attack, events elsewhere illustrate the devastating impact of a vehicle being driven into a dense crowd.

"Allowing vehicles with blue badges in creates an obvious risk that an intended terrorist could obtain such a pass if they're minded to act."

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