Possability People and BADGE statement on the closure of Gardner Street 11am and 5pm.

Possability People and BADGE are shocked and dismayed that Brighton and Hove City Council have voted to close Gardner Street to all vehicles between 11am and 5pm every day. They are calling for them to reconsider their decision in the light of disabled people who are going to be denied access to a popular neighbourhood and shopping area, and not least for the disabled resident who will no longer be able to leave their home during the daytime, despite having a disabled parking bay outside their house.

Possability People’s Chief Officer, Geraldine Des Moulins, says:

“I don’t think the City Council has any idea of the impact of their plan to close Gardner Street is going to have on disabled people. In fact, all they’ve done is demonstrate how little they understand the needs of disabled people and the day to day realities of living with an impairment or long term health condition.

“We are dismayed that on one hand, the Council is saying it is committed to making the city more accessible for disabled residents and visitors with its Accessible City Strategy and disability panel, and then doing the exact opposite with its Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee.

“We are especially concerned for the disabled resident who relies on their car to live an independent life. What happens when their condition fluctuates, and they need to get to their GP? Or have other emergencies that need to be dealt with? Or just want to go about their day like everyone one else, but can’t, because their car is locked in?

“This is such an exclusionary policy. 13,500 disabled people in the city are reliant on their vehicles or wheelchairs as mobility aids. This closure directly discriminates against those residents. It is putting trader’s profits above people.

“We understand the need to reduce car use for the health and benefit of us all. But the Council’s own Climate Assembly consistently and clearly recommends that exceptions should be made so that disabled people are not excluded from the city. This decision completely ignores the recommendations in their own report”.

BADGE Co-Founders Pippa Hodge and Rob Arbery say:

“This life-changing decision exposes the deficits of the Traffic Regulation Order process and the lack of integrity of Brighton & Hove Council’s Equality Impact Assessment mechanism, and the value that is placed on Equality Impact Assessments by Officers and Councillors.

Blue Badge holders are right to feel let down that this important equalities issue was not even deemed worthy of debate at the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee meeting.