A York MP has called on the council to halt its consultation into restoring blue badge access to the city centre.
As YorkMix reported yesterday (Monday), the newly-elected Labour council is asking for feedback as it looks to fulfil its election pledge to ‘reverse the ban’.
The online version of the consultation has gone live here.
Now though, Julian Sturdy has said the consultation is flawed and should be stopped.
In a series of posts on X, formerly Twitter, the Conservative MP for York Outer said: “City of York Council has launched a consultation on restoring blue badge access to the city centre.
“I share the concerns of many constituents that the questions are flawed and do not allow any real scope of opinion.
“Ideally, I would like to see the current consultation closed and a new consultation launched that addresses these concerns.
“Unfortunately, there is no guarantee this will happen so I encourage residents to complete the current consultation rather than boycott it due to concerns.
“I will write to City of York Council on behalf of residents who have already been in contact with me and press for a fresh consultation.”
The survey has drawn open criticism from some York residents.
Former Lib Dem leader of the council Steve Galloway posted on X: “New online consultation on city centre access is flawed. Little background information provided by City of York Council.
“‘All or nothing’ choice won’t help blue badge campaigners.”
Open government campaigner Gwen Swinburn called it “THE worst thrown together consultation ever” by the council.
Disability rights activist Flick Williams, who has been at the forefront of the campaign to reverse the blue badge ban, wasn’t happy either.
“After the headline news I have now read the detail,” she wrote on Twitter. “What on earth is this Labour York? Not what you promised the other side of the election.”
Ms Williams picked up a line from the survey which begins, “if the council executive agrees to restore blue badge access…” and responded: “’If’ indeed. Unacceptable. Equality is not achieved by asking everyone if they support it.”
We have asked City of York Council for a response.
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