Dame Judi Dench backs call to overturn York blue badge ban

Dame Judi Dench has fixed her "wholehearted support" to campaigners calling for a prohibition connected bluish badge parking successful York metropolis centre lifted.

A imperishable prohibition connected disabled parking successful pedestrianised areas was introduced successful November 2021.

The determination angered galore of those affected, who said they had been made to consciousness similar "second-class citizens".

Marilyn Crawshaw, from the radical Reverse The Ban, said Dame Judi's enactment was "a large boost".

She said the radical was "absolutely delighted" to person received a connection from the James Bond star, who was calved successful the Heworth country of York.

The Oscar-winning actor, 88, said: "York metropolis centre is simply a uncommon jewel that should beryllium escaped for each to enjoy, including those with a disablement and for whom accessible parking is essential.

"As idiosyncratic surviving with show loss, I cognize lone excessively good however gaining entree to places tin beryllium exceptionally difficult.

"York metropolis centre should beryllium afloat accessible done these types of schemes.

"I should similar to connection my wholehearted enactment to radical successful the City of York who are asking the section assembly to reconsider immoderate prohibition to the bluish badge strategy successful the metropolis centre."

Ms Crawshaw said "When we person idiosyncratic similar Dame Judi Dench coming retired and supporting america it's a large boost to us.

"It's beauteous to deliberation that idiosyncratic with specified a precocious illustration is consenting to talk out."

Ms Crawshaw said Dame Judi's words were "particularly bosom warming and encouraging and we anticipation it volition assistance the concern change."

The parking prohibition came into unit aft the assembly installed anti-terror measures to forestall the hazard of alleged hostile conveyance attacks.

Councillors antecedently said they had approved a bid of mitigation measures, including dropped kerbs, the employment of an entree serviceman and a feasibility survey into an accessible shuttle service.

Ms Crawshaw said post-graduate students from the University of York had conducted probe into the mode antagonistic panic measures could beryllium reconciled with gathering the rights of disabled people.

She told BBC Radio York the radical planned to contented findings from the probe soon.