Councillors will receive an update on measures to keep city centre events safe and make them more accessible to all at an Executive meeting next week (3 March).
The report provides a progress update into the ongoing work led by City of York Council in partnership with a variety of stakeholders, including North Yorkshire Police, Make it York, the York BID, The York Disability Rights Forum and the York Access Forum.
It follows a shared need to reassess the management of city centre events to ensure everyone’s safety and accessibility, following North Yorkshire Police’s recommendation that a temporary Anti-Terrorism Traffic Regulation Order (ATTRO), restricting vehicle access, be operated during York’s 2025 Christmas Market on public safety grounds.
At the meeting the council’s Executive will be asked to fund a number of short-term improvements, whilst also working with stakeholders and the public on longer term plans for infrastructure investment and improvements to how the centre is accessed and activity hosted. The short-term improvements include:
- Additional Blue Badge parking locations on the edge of the city centre
- Ensuring buses can stop as close as possible to the restricted area, and the provision of additional inclusive cycle parking and benches.
- Making dedicated quiet and rest spaces available as part of busy city centre events.
- Easier access to the Shopmobility mobility scooter hire service
Councillor Claire Douglas, Leader of City of York Council said:
In York we are all rightly proud of the wide range of events that take place across the city all year round which bring joy to so many people and significant economic benefits.
However, last Christmas, not everyone could enjoy the Christmas market or access their city centre during this period. As a council we are clear that events must be accessible to everyone. They must also be safe, which is why we have hostile vehicle measures in place and why we’re working very closely with North Yorkshire Police and event organisers.
This report provides an update on ongoing efforts to ensure that all future events are kept safe and made more accessible, learning from last year’s Christmas market.
We’re listening and want to make sure that any short-term and long-term changes are co-designed with communities and stakeholders, to ensure that we find the right way forward.
At the meeting Executive will also be asked to approve:
Working with communities and partners to find the best way forward and to co-design solutions that will improve accessibility for residents, businesses and visitors to York
A recommendation for Executive to agree to maintain a wide range of City Centre events, managing their impacts over the short, medium and long term through co-designed improvements to how events are accessed, managed and operated
Executive takes place on Tuesday 3 March 2026. The papers for this meeting are available online at: https://democracy.york.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=733&MId=15182.
The meeting will also be able to be watched live and on demand at www.york.gov.uk/webcasts
