City of York Council is likely to face a legal challenge after councillors voted to permanently ban blue badge holders from the city’s footstreets.
At an executive meeting last night, councillors voted unanimously to permanently remove the exemption offered to blue badge holders which allowed them to park in the city’s footstreets.
It was a move that was temporarily introduced to allow for social distancing and pavement cafe licences last year.
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Today, disability rights campaigners York Accessibility Action has launched a crowd funding page to back a possible legal challenge to the decision.
Founder member Alison Hume, a mum of three including an adult son with autism and complex disabilities, says: “Enough is enough.
“The council are not listening to us when we tell them about the misery inflicted on disabled residents and their families by the draconian footstreet closures.
“Maybe they will listen to us if we can prove they have discriminated against disabled people.”
They have instructed the specialist disability discrimination lawyer Chris Fry of Scott-Moncrieff & Associates to look into to whether they have a legal case.
“It does feel very David & Goliath but with Chris on our side, the devastating decision to permanently exclude disabled people from York may not be the end of the story.”
They aim to raise £5,000 – you can join the crowdfunder here.
‘Disregarding Equality Act’
The crowdfunder page says:
In summer 2020 the council extended the pedestrian zone using emergency Covid 19 legislation, banning Blue Badge holders from 10.30am – 8pm. There is now no suitable parking within 150 metres of the city centre.
These changes have prevented many residents with visible and invisible disabilities from accessing services, shops, dentists, opticians, the post office, banks, cinema, restaurants, churches, community centres, events – in fact everything which exists behind the barriers!
All attempts at communication and constructive consultation with the Council have met with no positive outcome and have failed to provide practical and meaningful alternatives to the ability to park close enough to the city centre.
We believe the City of York Council is disregarding the Equality Act 2010 and the human rights of disabled residents and visitors.
We now feel our only recourse is to explore legal avenues.