The full impact on people young and old of the ban on disabled parking on York’s footstreets has now been revealed.
YorkMix reported earlier this month that more than 2,700 postcards were handed in to City of York Council signed by people who are calling on the Lib Dem and Green-controlled council to reverse the city centre parking ban for disabled drivers.
Now some of the messages on those cards have been published by the council. And they show how much the policy has impacted on residents’ quality of life.
Here are some of the messages sent in to York council.
A huge impact on older people
- I am a 90 year old disabled lady. You have taken away my rights to be able to go into York centre to meet with friends at various places including St Sampsons Church [Centre]. Growing old comes to all of us. We can’t stop it.
- In February, during the time of Storm Dennis, it was my 94th birthday, and my family had booked a special lunch at The Ivy. We knew no cars would be allowed, so my daughter and I took a taxi – only to find that was not allowed near, even with my Blue Badge, I had a long (for me) and painful walk, in the wind and rain. It was even worse after the lunch as we had to walk to a taxi rank and had a long wait, No taxi was available to pick us up. My daughter and I were literally soaked through our coats, and very cold. I now have to go to Monk`s Cross or Vangarde to visit a shop, optician etc.
But all ages are affected
- I had a phone call from CYC last week permanently terminating the transport my disabled 12 year old son receives to take him to his respite – he is a full time, personal assisted wheelchair user. Are you saying, because he is disabled, he doesn’t have a right to be in the city centre like everyone else? That is ridiculous and you should be very embarrassed and ashamed.
- My 26 year old daughter has been excluded from her own city centre since the introduction of the ban. Having been limited in the first place to what was accessible to her, she is now totally excluded because she is unable to walk from any of the car parks to the shops. Her quality of life has been significantly affected.
- The impact of the ban has taken an intense toll on the emotional and mental health of myself, my friends and family. Visiting my beloved city centre is no longer an option; ‘allowing’ us to enter before 10.30 and after 7pm casts disabled people and Blue Badge holders as second class citizens. I fell in love with York age 14 and moved here at 18. Now, age 35, I am unwelcome.
The same thing isn’t happening elsewhere
- I understand the need to guard against terrorism, but I doubt whether old and/or disabled people are banned from the centre of London.
- I am embarrassed about this ban and have had friends visit from abroad who were able to travel internationally with their disability, only to receive a hostile welcome from the City of York.
The ban is tarnishing York’s reputation
- York should be carrying the flag and leading the way if they’re to be considered a human rights city! Shame on you!
- Everyone should have the right to come into our city centre whenever they want. People should not be prevented from coming into the city centre because they are disabled. It is the highest level of discrimination and quite frankly utterly disgraceful. What has happened to York?
Other drivers still seem to be allowed
- Can’t take my car into the centre but have nearly been hit by delivery cars numerous times.
- I note that delivery vans, post office vans and other business related vehicles have permission to drive in the city centre so why not blue badge holders?
It’s damaging the city centre economy
- I have not been into town since the parking changed for Blue Badge holders as it has become too inconvenient and would be detrimental to my health with having further to go to access services in the town centre. Pleasure outings such as to the cinema or for meals out have ceased and I have sought alternative out of town locations for things like the opticians. Shopping I would have done with a quick visit to town is being replaced with online purchases. These examples, combined with many others in a similar situation, must be harming the economy of the city.
- I am currently a manager for a care company within York and have witnessed first hand the difficulty my clients are having with the restrictions in place. Many are choosing to not even go into town as it just causes upset and frustration. The city should be open to everyone, not a select few.
And its reputation
- York is becoming a national embarrassment. Clearly disabled people aren’t welcome. This is not the 19th century when people were hidden away.
The ban is discriminatory
- Disabled and less mobile people need protecting from discrimination and degrading treatment by the City of York Councillors. These councillors are taking away our freedom, equality, opportunities, our right to socialise and enjoy activities in the city centre. We are patronised with suggestions of cycling, shuttle buses, benches and what’s to say they will even be available when required.
‘Terrorists do not discriminate’
The postcard messages were published as part of a report into city centre access going to the customer and corporate services scrutiny management committee next Monday (7 November).
The ban on Blue Badge parking on the footstreets has been brought in as part of measures to protect York from hostile vehicle attacks by terrorists.
The report also includes testimony from an unnamed counter terrorism security advisor who works for the North East Counter Terrorism Police.
They say that to protect cities like York “it is necessary to create a sterile zone free from all vehicles at times when the area is a crowded place”.
They add: “Terrorists plan attacks meticulously and hold no regard to blue badge holders, they do not follow the everyday rules that you and I would and would see the use of a vehicle displaying a blue badge as an opportunity rather than something that is in place to assist others.
“I therefore would advocate that any vehicle having ‘blue badge’ status should be excluded from entry to the vehicle access zone within the city centre during the times when it is operational.”
The report also updates councillors on plans for improving city centre access. The council is planning to appoint an Access Officer to focus on all these issues, including pavement café licences.
The council is also hoping to bring forward a trial of a shuttle bus to mitigate the problems caused by the Blue Badge restrictions.
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