Invitation to drop-in workshops ahead of Blue Badge holder’s access reopening on 4 January

Ahead of Blue Badge holder access to the city centre reopening at Goodramgate from 4 January 2024 and at Blake Street from Easter, disabled residents planning to visit the city centre are reminded of their invitation to drop into two workshops being held in the city centre.
On 12 October, senior councillors at City of York Council agreed to restore access for Blue Badge holders to the city centre from 4 January 2024.  Following that decision, these informal workshops are part of a consultation to help shape and further improve the city centre’s accessibility, and will focus on improving access from 4 January. They will be facilitated by council officers and representatives from the Centre of Applied Human Rights.

The accessible workshops will be held at the Friends’ Meeting House, Friargate, York YO1 9RL on:

• Friday 15 December from 10.00am to 12.00pm
• Saturday 16 December from 2.00pm and 4.00pm

A further eight workshops will be held during February and March to explore how to shape an accessible city centre. These will be facilitated by independent access consultants and representatives from the Centre for Human Rights.

The dates of the remaining eight workshops will be publicised as soon as our access consultants can confirm them.

Cllr Peter Kilbane, Executive Member for Transport and Economy at City of York Council, said: “The promise to ‘reverse the ban’ has been honoured and will come into effect from 4 January. Our commitment is now to listen to disabled residents and learn how we might further improve access in the city centre. Taking part in this consultation supports accessibility and also the important wider conversation on the Local Transport Plan Strategy (LTPS).”

Cllr Katie Lomas, Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects and Equalities at City of York Council, said: “Accessibility is key to ensuring that York is truly one city, for all. We want to do better, and listen to and learn from disabled residents. We’re looking forward to meeting you at these drop-ins and having open and detailed conversations to understand different experiences and barriers, and how we can make the experience of visiting, parking and leaving the city centre as good as possible.”

The nearest Blue Badge parking bays to Friargate are at Tower Street outside the Castle car park and Blue Badge holders can, if not causing an obstruction to other vehicles, park on the double yellow lines on Castlegate. Other Blue Badge parking options can be found at https://www.york.gov.uk/accessible-parking-1/blue-badge-parking-york.

Anyone unable to join the workshops can get involved at www.york.gov.uk/bluebadgeaccess. Or, please pick up a paper copy of the consultation from West Offices’ Customer Service Centre or Explore Libraries. Completed surveys can be:

• returned to West Offices, Customer Service Centre, Station Rise, York YO1 6GA before 4 February 2024
• scanned and emailed to: ourbigconversation@york.gov.uk before 4 February 2024.

You can also get involved in the wider consultation on the Local Transport Plan Strategy which includes a theme on accessibility, and keep in touch with consultation events by registering for council updates.