York city centre blue badge parking ban overturned

The ban was introduced during the pandemic and made permanent in 2021

A ban on blue badge parking in parts of York city centre has been overturned by councillors.

Disabled parking in pedestrianised areas was banned in 2021 to make way for measures to protect against vehicle-based terror attacks.

The then Liberal Democrat and Green-run council said it would enable the construction of anti-terror bollards.

However, when Labour took control of the authority in May, its leader said reversing the ban was a "top priority".

Blue badge access in York was first removed during the Covid pandemic to allow visitors to socially distance on the historic city's narrow streets.

City of York Council said making the ban permanent in 2021 would enable it to protect people in line with advice from security experts.

But this was met with outrage by disability activists and sparked protests outside the council's headquarters.

Labour promised to overturn the ban if the party won control in May's local elections.

Disabled parking will be restored in the city centre

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Katie Lomas, Labour's executive member for finance, performance, major projects and equalities, who is also a blue badge holder, said there was "no doubt" about the ban's impact on blue badge holders.

"Residents described the isolation they have experienced and the need to travel to towns across the county to access basic services such as banks and opticians.

"Imagine they told you that you can't meet your friends for lunch or go to the cinema. You'd be outraged, distressed and appalled.

"You'd feel victimised and that you're no longer welcome, marginalised in the place you call home."

'Gravely serious issue'

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

"It was entirely wrong for members previously to claim the security risk was imagined," he 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."

Responding, Labour deputy leader Pete Kilbane said it was "sad" the Liberal Democrats still supported the "exclusion of blue badge holders".

Councillors voted to retain the city centre's anti-terror bollards, but ruled that blue badge access would be restored to Blake Street, Lendal, St Helen's Square, Goodramgate, Church Street, Kings' Square and Colliergate.

They also voted to start the process and consultation of developing an anti-terrorism traffic regulation order and recognised that some events might mean access was still restricted.

The council had previously been told it would cost an additional £200,000 a year to staff the barriers when they were closed to permit blue badge access.