Voicing the Impact of Blue Badge Exclusion

We asked disabled people how they were feeling about the Blue Badge exclusion in York. This is what they said.

Some comments are from council surveys which are publicly available, and some are read by volunteers.

Transcript

Person 1

Whilst I think the footstreets issue is a very big issue, don't get me wrong about that, underlying it is a scandal that's being overshadowed and not really talked about.  City of York Council and York’s councillors do not seem to see disabled people as valuable - whether we are residents or visitors, we are not valued.

There's a fundamental lack of understanding about disability within an organization that not only should abide by the Equality Act, but also by the public sector duty.

And this the fact that there is no understanding about disability is disgusting and demoralizing.

The Equality Act has been in place since 2010 which has given the council and councillors 11 years to grasp a basic understanding of what it’s like to be a disabled person in this city. A city they claim to care about.

We are residents, we are visitors, and we are part of the city, whether they want us to be or not. And right now, there is a strong message that we are not welcome.

In part that is because of the Blue Badge access to the city centre, but also because of all the messages surrounding that narrative.

How can a council, councillors and party and the party elected, possibly do their best for disabled residents with such little understanding about our lives.

Decisions that are being made, for example about SEN, social care and so on, would appear to be being made by elected leaders who have made little attempt to listen to or learn about disabled people.

I moved to York in 2005, because I felt welcome here. I felt like this was my home. 16 years later, and that no longer feels the case.

Behind all the footstreets debacle lies the message that disabled people are not seen as people by this city.

Person 2

As a registered Blue Badge holder, I have a disability, and I now find that I cannot meet family for dinner in York until after eight o'clock. This is a huge failure, as it's stopping a group of people with limited mobility going out, as even taxis cannot get close enough into the centre, thus forcing us to stay even more isolated from the outside world.

Person 3

My Blue Badge gave me independence and the ability to park close to where I need to go, and you have now taken that away.

Person 4

My father has got serious mobility problems and dementia. He cannot walk from the various disabled parking areas on the outskirts of the city centre to the centre of town.

My mum used to be able to drive him into the centre, park using the blue badge, and then help him safely get to the bank, to the opticians, and also just get out of the house so they could be together and sit and have a coffee or lunch.

My father cannot be safely left on his own. He may fall, and may also get lost. My mum cannot drop him off and then park the car further away as he can't be left on his own. By stopping access to the city centre and removing the blue badge parking that was previously available, you have stopped him from being able to do this.

In addition, you've also impacted on my mother's life as a carer as she is now not able to get into the city centre.

Person 5

Yes to fewer vehicles, no to discrimination against those who are already most disadvantaged.

Person 6

I am unable to access my dentist, as it is in Goodramgate, and I was previously reliant on being dropped off outside by taxi due to mobility problems. I used to go into town to meet a friend occasionally or for appointments e.g. the optician but I haven't been into York at all since March and can't imagine ever being able to do so again. I’m cut off from being able to access the city centre for any purpose, including going to the dentist or optician.

York is too crowded, not enough people wearing masks including outdoors, and I'm physically unable to stand and wait in a queue outside a shop or cafe, as standing is extremely painful for my bad hip, and I usually need to keep sitting down.

Person 7

My blue badge gave me independence and the ability to park close to where I need to go. You’ve taken that away.

Person 8

My hairdresser is in Goodramgate, but I can't park on College Green at the back of the Minster anymore. I shopped at the national trust shop, and used tea rooms, all within my very limited movement area by parking there - can’t park, so can't do these things.

I used Lendall to park for Costa and on my good days I could access the park from there.

I also used Blake Street to park to go to Betty's to meet friends – all no more. I feel my choices and preferences have been taken away that I, as a disabled person, have to make do or go without. It makes me feel like I'm worthless.

My very small world of both social and essential has got even smaller, isolating me even more than my disability already did. I feel like York is a no go area for disabled people now. Perhaps the council think if they make it too difficult for us, we will go away, and then you won’t need to do anything.

Person 9

Cannot now reach M&S for shopping or St Sampson’s for seeing friends and socializing. I can get there before 10:30 and be dropped off but cannot then get back to my daughter's parked car. This is a very detrimental step for me as it has been one of my few pleasures in town.

Person 10

I can only sit up in my wheelchair for a very short time, often only 20 to 30 minutes. I need to lie down frequently and at short notice.

I have an ambulance style bed in our adapted vehicle. Therefore coming into town was only possible if we could park very close to my destination, typically on Blake Street or Lendal using my blue badge.

Therefore the current road closures are making it impossible for me to come into town, which has made me much more isolated and impacted on my mental health.

Person 11

I can't go to the hairdresser, optician or nail bar. I've had to change all these plus change my chemist for prescriptions. I can no longer shop or socialize in my home city. Being disabled is hard enough and now the few pleasures that I had have been taken away from me. I've had my independence and freedom taken away.

I am unable to walk very far, and my condition is such that I need to be able to get back home in an emergency. Why change a system that worked? I am a second class person.

Person 12

I am unable to do any of my previous tasks from shopping to meals out due to the horrendous changes that have been implemented. I have mobility issues and rely on friends and family to assist me when going into town. I can't support my local businesses anymore or local charity shops anymore as I can’t get into town like previously. This is also having a profound effect on my mental health now as I feel cooped up.