In October 2023 the Council Executive agreed to restore vehicle access to the city centre for Blue Badge holders. Blue Badge holder access is now a permanent feature of the city.
Access to the city centre is restricted between 10.30am and 5.00pm by automated sliding bollard hostile vehicle prevention barriers.
Before 10.30am and after 5.00pm, residents and Blue Badge holders can continue to access the city centre and all the barriers will be open.
Blue Badge holders can now use 2 routes into the city centre during footstreet hours, 10.30am to 5.00pm, Monday to Sunday. The routes are:
- Goodramgate to Colliergate: Blue Badge holders can drive into the city centre when the footstreets are in operation from 10.30am to 5.00pm. Entry will be via staffed, sliding bollards at the junction of Goodramgate and Deangate, through Kings Square to Church Street (2 way) and out via CCTV-controlled sliding bollards at Colliergate. Note: until the barriers on Colliergate are fully operational they will remain open.
- Blake Street to Lendal: Blue Badge holders can drive into the city centre via staffed, sliding bollards at Blake Street, through St Helen’s Square, then out through CCTV-controlled sliding bollards at Lendal.
Map of restored access
Key to map of restored access
CCTV-controlled sliding bollards
Staffed sliding bollards
Route
Double yellow lines
Two-way street
One-way street
Blue Badge holder access
Entrance or exit
Loading bay
The map shows the 2 routes indicated by a turquoise line. Magenta rectangles (with arrows) show the access points.
To get through the barriers, Blue Badge holders must present their valid Blue Badge to barrier staff. Following checks, they will be let into the city centre and can park or, if driven, be dropped off.
If you are a Blue Badge holder, you should display your Blue Badge on your dashboard for your whole journey in the city centre, from your arrival through the entry barrier up until when you exit.
The following guidance is being sent to all Blue Badge holders:
- Driving into the city
- Being dropped off or picked up - not by taxi
- Being dropped off or picked up - by taxi
- Parking in the city centre
- Having a driver waiting
- Leaving the city centre
- Refused entry
- Restoring Blue Badge access feedback
Driving into the city
To drive into the footstreets between 10.30am and 5.00pm, Blue Badge holders will need to go to the entrance barriers at Goodramgate or Blake Street.
These points are staffed by barrier officers in dark red-coloured tabards with ‘City Centre Access’ written on the back.
They will ask you to show your Blue Badge and will:
- ask you to confirm the name on the Blue Badge
- check that the photograph is of you
- check that your Blue Badge is in date
- check that you have the card clock that comes with your Blue Badge.
If the check is successful, you will be advised:
- where you can park
- to please drive slowly and cautiously
- to not obstruct the highway, dropped kerbs or ramps
- to allow access for moving vehicles
- that you set the correct time on your clock and that it will be in view
- how to exit.
The barriers will open and you can drive through.
If the check is unsuccessful the barrier officer will not open the barriers and ask you to return with a valid badge, or after 5.00pm.
Being dropped off or picked up - not by taxi
When accessing the footstreets between 10.30am and 5.00pm, please ensure you have your Blue Badge with you.
If you are being dropped off, the barrier officer will ask the driver if they are a friend, taxi or private hire vehicle.
To ensure you can be picked up, the barrier officer will ask you for:
- your name
- a rough time that you are expecting to be picked up.
Once you have been dropped off, the driver must approach the exit barriers and wait for them to open, or they can go to the intercom and asked to be let out.
On collection, the driver picking you up must approach the entrance barrier and inform the barrier officer that they are picking you up.
In order to be able to gain entry they will be asked to provide:
- your name
- the approximate pick-up time
Once the barrier officer has successfully checked the details your driver will be allowed through the barriers. They will ask the CCTV Team to open the exit barriers when you leave.
Being dropped off or picked up - by taxi
When accessing the footstreets between 10.30am and 5.00pm, please ensure you have your Blue Badge with you.
Your taxi will drive up to the entrance barriers where they will be approached by the barrier officer who will ask you for your Blue Badge.
The barrier officer will:
- ask you to confirm the name on your Blue Badge
- check the photograph on your Blue Badge
- check that your Blue Badge is in date
If you have pre-booked a taxi to collect you the barrier officer will:
- ask you the name of the taxi firm
- ask you the pick-up time
- ensure that the taxi firm have your name
If you haven’t pre-booked your taxi you will need to:
- give the taxi company your name - they must record this
- tell them you are a Blue Badge holder and agree a pick up point
- confirm that you have told the barrier officer that you are being picked up by a taxi, the time and the collection location
If you do not tell the barrier officer the above information, the taxi will not be allowed in.
On collection, the taxi driver picking you up must approach the entrance barrier and inform the barrier officer that they are picking you up.
In order to be able to gain entry the taxi staff will be asked to provide:
- your name
- the approximate pick-up time
- the pick-up location, along the allowed route
The barrier officer will check their records and, if all is correct, open the barriers.
The barrier officer will inform the CCTV Team, so they will open the exit barriers when you leave.
Parking in the city centre
You can park on single or double yellow lines on the route for up to 3 hours. However, you must not:
- block the road
- use loading bays
- block dropped kerbs, ramps, junctions or raised footways.
Please avoid parking on Colliergate as the roadway is very narrow.
Find out more about parking with a Blue Badge in the City of York.
Having a driver waiting
You must tell the barrier officer if your driver will wait for you whilst you are visiting the city centre.
- the driver can park on single or double yellow lines for up to 3 hours
- the driver must not block the road, use loading bays or block dropped kerbs, ramps or raised footways
- you will need to leave your Blue Badge in the driver’s car window.
When you exit, please wait at the exit barriers and the CCTV Team will let you out.
Leaving the city centre
The barriers are equipped with pedestrian sensors, for safety.
When driving up to the exit at either Colliergate or Lendal, you should not stop too close to the bollards and should keep your vehicle clear of the sensors; if you stop too close to the bollards this will mean the bollards can not be opened.
There is an intercom for you to access, if you are able, should you have any issues on exit.
Refused entry
You and your driver will be denied entry if the Blue Badge is out of date, or the name or photograph do not match the passenger’s details.
The barrier officer will explain their reason for refusing access. You will be asked to turn around and leave.
If you refuse to leave, the CCTV Team will monitor your vehicle and notify the police to attend. They will remove the vehicle if necessary.
Restoring Blue Badge access feedback
Blue Badge holders access to the city centre has now been restored via Blake Street and Goodramgate.
As part of an accessible and inclusive programme of engagement activities, we're capturing the voices of people who visit the city centre, and gathering feedback on their experiences and suggestions for improvement.
Residents have been invited to take part in 2 online consultations on improving city centre accessibility, and drop-in sessions for Blue Badge holders were held in December.
Now, we're inviting disabled residents, businesses and community groups to sign up to attend one of 6 in-person, accessible workshops and one online workshop. These are part-funded by the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The workshops will be run by inclusive and independent access experts Mima, in collaboration with the Centre for Applied Human Rights and the council’s Access Officer.
Sign up for the workshops online:
York City Centre - Accessibility Workshops Sign Up
The workshops will focus on:
- getting your views on alternative ways we can enable Blue Badge holders access through the entry and exit barriers, instead of the current process of using barrier staff at each entrance
- current accessibility challenges in the city centre
- key areas for accessibility improvements
- what could be done to make York more accessible for residents and commuters
Up to 20 participants are invited to sign up to each of these 7 workshops.
For residents with lived experience of disability:
- Thursday 14 March, 10.00am to midday at Burrows Room, Citadel, Gillygate, YO13 7EA
- Friday 15 March, 2.00pm to 4.00pm at Tang Hall Community Centre, Fifth Ave, Tang Hall, YO31 0UG
- Saturday 16 March, 10am to 12noon: online workshop using Teams. Live captions will be available
- Sunday 17 March, 11.00am to 1.00pm at Ellis Room, Acomb Parish Hall, 18a Front St, Acomb, YO24 3BZ
For business people:
- Thursday 14 March, 6.00pm to 8.00pm at the Chase Room, Delta Hotels by Marriott York, Tadcaster Road, YO24 1QQ
For members of any York community groups:
- Saturday 16 March, 2.00pm to 4.00pm at Penn Room, The Friends’ Meeting House, Friargate, YO1 9RL
- Monday 18 March, 10.00am to midday at Burrows Room, Citadel, Gillygate, YO13 7EA
For more information or to request this information in an alternative format, contact Mima on email: workshops@mimagroup.com, and include 'Access Workshop' or 'Business Workshop' or 'Residents Workshop' as applicable in the email’s subject title.
Feedback from barrier users via Freepost postcard
All Blue Badge holders entering the city through the staffed barriers will also be given a Freepost postcard.
Please use it to let us know more about your experience on the day and if you have any suggestions for improvements.