York Christmas Market opening time changes approved
The event will open at 10.30am daily, half an hour later than originally planned
The way York’s Christmas Market functions will have to change if access for some continues to be restricted, the council’s leader has said as later opening times were approved.
The event will open at 10.30am daily, half an hour later than originally planned, following concerns over Blue Badge holders’ access to the city being restricted during the six-week event.
Cllr Claire Douglas, York Council’s Labour leader, said they could not go on in the same way and all aspects of future markets’ operations would be on the table.
But Liberal Democrat opposition leader Cllr Nigel Ayre said Labour politicising the issue of Blue Badge access had led to the situation the council now found itself in.
The decision to delay the market’s opening came as the council’s executive also agreed to review it and other major city centre events early next year.
Officials are set to look at the case for the market and at the way it and other events are put on and managed.
It follows the council’s approval last month of a request from North Yorkshire Police for a city centre vehicle ban during the market which begins on Thursday, November 13.
The Anti-Terror Traffic Regulation Order (ATTRO) in force during the event will see vehicles barred from city centre streets subject to existing hostile vehicle measures.
Restrictions will be in place from 10.30am to 7pm daily from Thursday, November 13 to Sunday, December 21.
North Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Tim Forber has said the order is needed to deter vehicle attacks which have targetted Christmas markets and other mass gatherings elsewhere.
But disabled people have said they will restrict their ability to reach services they need, shop and socialise in the city centre during the festive season.
Event organiser Make It York has since said that it provides a vital boost to the city’s economy in response to doubts being cast on the future of the event.
Arrangements include temporarily turning a loading bay in Duncombe Place into Blue Badge parking spaces and £5,000 to fund free mobility aid hiring through the Shopmobility charity.
Exemptions to the ATTRO have also been made for council waste collection and disposal vehicles along with Boots and Royal Mail delivery drivers.
Emergency services vehicles and those going to do urgent and necessary utility repairs will also be allowed in.
Other vehicles left in the area after 10.30am will be served penalty charge notices (PCNs) and towed for violating a loading and waiting ban in place during the event.
The meeting heard the arrangements aimed to balance security concerns with Blue Badge access concerns and with vehicle trips needed to keep the city functioning.
But opposition leader Cllr Ayre said the Blue Badge issue stemmed from Labour’s reversal of a year-round access ban brought in by the previous Liberal Democrat and Green coalition administration.
The Liberal Democrat leader added previous comments from the council’s Labour Deputy Leader Cllr Pete Kilbane about the future of the event being in doubt were unhelpful and caused concern.
Cllr Ayre said: “We always followed expert advice and we were consistent on this when we were in power, the police advice hasn’t changed.
“Labour’s been reluctantly dragged to this position, this should never have been politicised, it’s a matter of safety.”
Cllr Kilbane said Labour would not put disabled residents in the position of being banned from driving into the city centre 365 days a year.
The council’s deputy leader added the chief constable’s request for an ATTRO had changed the situation this year and it would have been wrong to go against it.
Cllr Kilbane said: “We will never be in the position that Cllr Ayre has spelt out in saying it’s the Christmas Market and business above all and if you can’t access it then tough.
“We will make sure the city centre remains accessible during the Christmas Market and other events, we won’t stop putting on events.”
Cllr Dougas said the council had effectively no choice but to agree with arrangements for this year following the police request.
The council leader said: “We will consider all aspects of how the Christmas Market functions and if it can’t accommodate all residents it has to function differently.
“There needs to be an absolute focus on making this work, we can’t go on like this every year.”