York: Lift ban on demonstration outside Liberal Democrat conference

Cancel the ban will be peacefully protesting outside the Barbican Center on Paragon Street from 5pm to 6pm today (March 17) as the Liberal Democrats arrive in the city for their national spring conference.

This coincides with the group’s publication of a campaign leaflet outlining the positions of the ban on four political groups.

Flick Williams, a disabled activist and one of the organizers of the protest, said: “We have been writing and emailing prominent members of the National Liberal Democrat leadership for over two years now with no response.

“Are they ashamed of their colleagues at York Council and what they have done to both disabled citizens and visitors to our historic city?

“We thought we’d take this opportunity to go and ask them in person and see what they had to say for themselves.”

Diane Roworth, who regularly speaks at Council meetings about the ban, said: “The Liberal Democrats will soon be fighting for seats on Councils across the country, including here in York.

“Do they really believe that this exclusion of blue badge holders really reflects progressive values? We believe that this policy directly contradicts our human rights.”

Marilyn Crawshaw of the York Human Rights City Network said: “It’s not our intention to tell people how to vote, because Repeal Ban is a non-partisan cause.

“We are submitting statements from the political parties themselves to help people decide how to cast their vote.”

In November 2021, City of York Council introduced a permanent ban on blue badge parking in the city centre, following a temporary ban during the pandemic.

Reverse the Ban, a coalition of charities, advocacy groups and other disability and age-related organizations in York, has come together to press for the ban to be lifted.