Setts fight campaigners claim 100pc backing

The £2.5m revamp of Saturday Market, which involves removing the majority of the setts, was rephased in the face of mounting protests.

Work is due to start on the Yorkstone pavements near the Grapes pub today, while negotiations continue with interested parties.

The council has said it doesn’t believe the setts provide a suitable surface for less able-bodied people, those in wheelchairs and pushing prams and that disabled groups were in favour of them being removed.

But Philippa Naylor, a member of campaign group Beverley Action, has contacted at least 10 local charities as well as national groups, and says no one was in favour of their removal. Some preferred not to be identified.

One of the organisations contacted was Beverley Community Lift, which transports elderly and disabled people. Chief executive officer Jan Stainforth said: “The issue of the cobbles had never been raised nor have we experienced any particular driving problems in the area.”

And blind Beverley resident Diane Woodford, who has a guide dog and cane, said the setts were the best and safest surface in the town centre as their distinctive feel let her know where she was. John Killick, of the Disabled Motorists Federation asked: “Why should we, the disabled, take away the historic inheritance of the majority who aren’t?”

Mrs Naylor said: “What we’d like is the setts retaining, the bitumen grouted between them and one or two level crossing paved areas for disabled users and people with buggies.”

A council spokesman said: “We are in the process of finalising our additional discussions around the setts. We still need to have these discussions before a resolution can be made.”