PLANS to scrap disabled parking bays outside York’s Explore Library Learning Centre have been blasted by a councillor.

Sonja Crisp, Labour’s social inclusion spokeswoman on City of York Council, claimed the changes in Library Square would create a “nightmare” for motorists with disabilities.

She also argued a proposed redevelopment of the square, which includes the removal of the bays, could no longer be afforded in the current economic climate.

Her comments echoed criticism of the plans by furious disability rights campaigners, who claimed in December that public funds were being used to restrict access by disabled people to the library.

Coun Crisp said the scheme was being pursued at a cost of £60,000, at a time when the council’s Liberal Democrat executive was approving a £21 million cuts programme and reducing library staff costs by £40,000.

She said: “The scheme will create a disability nightmare for some library users as they will lose disabled parking spaces.

“Instead, the council will expect those with mobility problems to park in two non-library dedicated spaces and walk over to the library if a space is even available.” She said Labour’s alternative council budget would call for the plan to be scrapped.

But Coun Steve Galloway, the Liberal Democrat executive member for city strategy, claimed Labour was distorting the true position, and said the overall scheme was aimed at improving access to the side of the bus stops in Museum Street.

He said: “It should be of particular benefit to these who rely on disability scooters and who are often unable to get past queuing bus passengers under current arrangements.”

Coun Galloway said no decision had been taken on what form of disabled access would be allowed when the area in front of the library was paved.

“Council officers are currently looking at alternative parking arrangements for disabled people immediately adjacent to the library,” he said. “Far from making access for library and council office users worse, the remodelled areas should actually make access for the disabled much safer.”

He also claimed Coun Crisp was muddling a one-off capital expenditure in assets with ongoing revenue expenditure, such as salary costs.