Speaking at a meeting of Full Council last night (20 Oct. 22) at which all councillors voted for a motion on equality for disabled people, Green Party councillor, Denise Craghill underlined York Green Party’s position on the current access rules for the city centre ‘footstreets’. She called for a review, in conjunction with the council’s new Access Officer and disability groups, of whether one or more vehicle access routes into the city centre’s core foot streets area could be provided for blue badge holders once the permanent security barriers are installed, without compromising public safety.
“The removal of the exemption whereby during foot street hours certain vehicles, including those with blue badges, could access the footstreets area for drop-off and parking continues to have a negative impact on blue badge holders who need their vehicles to access these city centre streets. York Green Party acknowledges this.’ says Green Party Micklegate activist, Andreas Heinemeyer.
“The installation of the permanent barriers which will be remotely controlled via CCTV provides a clear opportunity to look at this again and to develop access routes which will work for blue badge holders but not compromise security. York Green Party believes that the Council has an obligation to balance these two issues”, he added.
Henry Stevens, a Green Party activist in the Guildhall ward area, goes on to say: “It is going to be a number of months before the permanent barriers are installed and operational. But there is no reason to wait in order to start a process of working with disability groups, the new access officer and relevant council officers to review the options for potential access routes for blue badge holders that would still protect public safety.”
I watched the Council Meeting on the live stream’ says Martina Weitsch, Vice Chair of York Green Party. ‘I heard the compelling testimony from those affected. We get it, and we are keen to ensure that the necessary preparation is done now to enable better access through the new permanent barriers when they are in place. This isn’t making up for past hurt, I understand that, but it is, hopefully, a step in the right direction.”
