Personal Impact
What people have told us about the personal impact of the Blue Badge ban
Updated: 12th February 2023
Below are just a small selection of experiences that disabled people have shared with us ……..
An unbelievable violation of human rights that diminishes the name of this good city
Let my granddaughter back into her city!
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 Vanguard to visit a shop, optician etc. I understand the need to guard against terrorism, but I doubt whether old and/or disabled people are banned from the centre of London. Good luck to your efforts.
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?
Wheelchairs and mobility scooters don’t work for everyone and the terrain isn’t always suitable anyway. Citing anti-terrorism measures implies that blue badge holders are likely to be engaged in terrorist activities! What have we don’t that offends the council. Why do they hate us so much? This feels like the thin end of the wedge. What have they got planned for us next I ask myself.
I am a 30 year old with a chronic lung condition and I am very limited in the distance which I can walk. My quality of life is severely reduced by the lack of access to York city centre, caused by these draconian measures.
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. Growing old comes to all of us. We can’t stop it.
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.
My father lived in York for the whole of his life and walked and cycled everywhere until his mid 90s. In the last few years of his life his remaining pleasure was to be driven into the city and where he could manage a short walk. This link with his past added to his well-being. To see this has been taken away from people who pay taxes to live in the city is iniquitous.
I have lived in York 57 yrs and since the blue badge ban I have been unable to access York. This is greatly distressing to me and I feel rejected and unwanted which adds to my isolation.
I have not been in York centre since first lock down.. . I miss being able to sit in a cafe and enjoy a tea or coffee.
I am a university student. My father has recently become disabled due to a workplace accident which will soon require him to undergo amputation. York has come to be my second home which I love to show off to my family and friends when they visit me. My home town is in Kent which means travelling to visit me is a significant task for a disabled person on its own.
It is therefore heartbreaking for me to hear that exclusion will greatly hinder and restrict my ability to show my father this beautiful and historic city that I have come to call home. So much of the culture that made me fall in love with York is found in the city centre which will soon become inaccessible for him. Thus I wholeheartedly support the reversal of this ban. Covid has already prevented me from sharing this city with my family. Thus after shielding for so long in the hopes that one day they could properly visit, this ban effectively ends the ability for me to share the wonders of the city centre with my family.
I am so saddened by the continuing effective ban of disabled people into the city centre, and ashamed of being a York resident (and born here). My mum died last month. She had MS for 40 years. Since the removal of parking and access into the centre, she was no longer able to be taken into town by my father. I was no longer able to take her to see a film at City Screen.
The small things in life that non-disabled people take as granted. Disabled people are workers, consumers, visitors, residents and tourists. But most of all they are human beings.......The Council (of which I also used to have great sympathy for and work at) has unfortunately caused great misery and suffering to disabled people and their families. Access into our city really is that important to people. Please, please reverse the changes. Give disabled people the opportunity to live as others do. Please.
I feel that there is no rhyme or reason for this ban on blue badge holders. I’ve lost my independence and my liberty. I want & need to get into town to spend money. No can do. I strongly object to being told on how to live my life. Disabled peoples’ lives are hard & difficult enough without this ban. It’s a disgrace.
As a disabled person I no longer feel welcome in town, or in the York community. I rarely get into town these days because of access limitations. I can’t bring my kids into the city centre for activities as my son and I are both disabled and he can’t manage buses. I miss feeling like I belong and am welcome here.
My daughter, who is a wheelchair user and who grew up in York and loves to visit now feels excluded and finds it difficult to come home.
It’s ruining this amazing city. Let’s change it for the better & make it accessible for all who wish to shop & take in the wonderful sights of York without having to drive miles out of York.
I’m 50, disabled & have lived in York most of my life. Now that my health has declined I feel it’s cruel to penalise disabled ppl, by removing their right to park within York, just because we have a disability that prevents us from walking far.
I can’t access York anymore!
What else can you take away from disabled people especially disabled children! 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.
I work very hard to ensure my disabled son is included in every aspect of everyday life - I recommend you do the same and give disabled people a break they don’t need this when life is already tough enough! I live in hope of change.
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.
Please have a heart for those people unable to get to the shops without being able to park. I used to take my mother in and park outside Brown's department store, where she could buy most things she needed plus she could get to Hotters shoe shop with her walking aid. Now she would be unable to do that.
I know how much she enjoyed being able to choose and do things for herself. To take away people's independence is heartless.