The opening time of York’s Christmas Market will be pushed back by half an hour to ease the impact on Blue Badge holders during the six-week event.
It will start at 10.30am each morning so disabled people have a little more time to get in and out of the city centre to conduct business and shop.
A council report, stating that the measure was aimed at reducing the adverse impact of a city centre vehicle ban when the market begins next Thursday, November 13, was approved by the Executive tonight (Tue 4 November)
Lib Dem Opposition leader, Cllr Nigel Ayre, made this observation: “I did notice on my way in, the signs were already up for 10:30 and so it just seemed as if the decision had been slightly pre-empted.”
Labour Council Leader, Claire Douglas, said they had no choice but to implement a vehicle ban but discussions about future markets would take place next year.
“I will not step back from the fact that I have had to say that we will consider how the Christmas market functions, and if it can’t accommodate all of our residents, then it needs to function differently, and we will be starting that work in early 2026.”
Cllr Ayre added that talk of cancelling the market was destabilising.
“I think the comments of the last meeting threatening the Christmas market were particularly unhelpful, and did destabilise a lot of our partners, businesses, and caused great amounts of concern.
“I’m glad this report does actually start to step back on some of those threats about cancelling the market.”
Disability Campaigner Flick Williams says it’s all hugely disappointing: “I really struggle to see how actually that is going to help many people at all, banks and building societies open quite late.
“So if you arrive and there’s a huge queue, you’re now going to be stressing as to whether you can actually get your vehicle out in time”
