Equalities impact and mitigation statement
There is an acknowledged threat to the United Kingdom from terrorism and past experience has demonstrated that this particular threat is acute in intensely crowded places.
To maintain the necessary levels of security required as part of the City Centre Security scheme, no on-street car parking will be allowed within the proposed protected areas at any time, including for blue badge holders. The Council recognises this reduces the current quality of parking for disabled and mobility impaired people.
The Council is committed to maximising the accessibility of the city centre and minimising the impacts caused by securing it from terrorist threat. To help achieve this it is commissioning an independent pan-disability access consultant to inform the schemes approach to accessible design. The consultant will engage with stakeholders to help identify a package of measures to mitigate scheme impacts on the disabled community and optimise opportunities to deliver its benefits.
Existing temporary COVID-19 blue badge permit holder parking spaces will remain in place during the consultation period and prior to any resolution and implementation of permanent security proposals and access restrictions, subject to the Government maintaining social distancing requirements.
Dedicated blue badge holder on-street parking bays remain available within the streets surrounding the access restrictions.
Furthermore, disabled bays for blue badge holders are available within Council car parks at Charlotte St (24 spaces), Avon St (11 spaces), Kingsmead Square (4 spaces), Broad St (4 spaces) and Manvers St (6 spaces). Further spaces are available in private car parks at Southgate (38 spaces) and Podium (13 spaces).