Councils have called on the Government to ban pavement parking across England – not just London – and punish motorists who block pavements, especially for vulnerable and disabled people.
The Local Government Association (LGA) says more powers need to be given to local authorities to enforce parking to make streets safer and “tackle the scourge” of drivers preventing access to those on mobility scooters, wheelchairs and children in strollers.
The demand for enforcement powers comes more than three years after the Department for Transport concluded a consultation on pavement parking, which has seen no action as a result.
Parking woes: Councils want pavement parking banned across England to stop drivers blocking pavement access for the most vulnerable people, including those in wheelchairs.
Often when motorists park partially – and sometimes completely – on the sidewalk, it is because of how narrow the road is.
By putting at least two wheels on the trail, you provide more room for other vehicles to pass through tight spaces safely.
However, this often has a detrimental impact on pedestrians, especially those with mobility issues.
The LGA says that elderly and disabled people, as well as parents with strollers and younger children, are regularly forced to navigate around vehicles that are mounted on the sidewalk or on the other side of the sidewalk.
By doing so, you put these pedestrians at greater risk when entering the road and oncoming traffic.
The association says this poses possibly the greatest danger to blind and visually impaired people.
Often when motorists park partially on the sidewalk, it is because of how narrow the road is. By putting at least two wheels on the trail, you provide more room for other vehicles to pass through tight spaces safely. However, this is often to the detriment of pedestrians.
The LGA says that elderly and disabled people, as well as parents with strollers and younger children, are regularly forced to navigate around vehicles that are mounted on the sidewalk or on the other side of the sidewalk.
Curb Parking Arguably Poses the Greatest Danger to Blind and Visually Impaired People
However, there is a secondary impact resulting from parking heavy vehicles on sidewalks that are not designed to support such loads.
It can cause pavements to crack and damage the surface, which in turn creates tripping and injury hazards for pedestrians.
The LGA says it also leads to costly repairs and maintenance arising from their increasingly tight budgets.
Curb parking is currently only banned in London, where councils have powers to exempt certain roads.
After the call of several groups, in 2020, the The government launched a consultation study the possibility of extending the ban to all of England.
However, an announcement has yet to be made on the findings and what changes could be made to legislation to help councils crack down on pavement parking.
Meanwhile, Scotland has introduced a nationwide parking ban this year.
Local authorities can issue fines of £100 if they identify drivers who park on pavements and block the pavement for pedestrians. The amount of the fine is reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days.
A consultation is also planned in Wales on the introduction of curb parking restrictions.
The LGA, which represents councils in England and Wales, said a change to the rules is “long overdue” and would help councils meet national targets to encourage more walking and cycling, while also would protect older and vulnerable people from injury.
In 2020, the DfT launched a consultation on extending the ban on pavement parking across England. However, no announcement has yet been made about the findings.
London is the only place in England where it is illegal to park on the pavement, even if it is just one or two wheels away from the pavement. Scotland has implemented a ban this year.
The LGA says there is a secondary problem with pavement parking: as well as blocking access for vulnerable pedestrians, it can also cause damage to pavements which they are then responsible for repairing if they threaten to cause injuries.
Cllr Darren Rodwell, LGA transport spokesperson, added: “Peak parking is one of pedestrians’ biggest complaints, but three years on, councils outside London still do not have the powers to tackle this. flagellum”.
‘Vulnerable and disabled people, including wheelchair users and parents with baby strollers, are forced to travel on the road due to the recklessness of some drivers when parking, posing a real and potential danger to the public. life.
‘Repairing curbs and pavements damaged by pavement parking is also expensive and this funding could be better used to repave our roads and pavements, support local buses and provide more suitable parking.
“If we are to meet the Government’s ambition that by 2030 half of all journeys in England’s towns and cities will be made on foot, by wheel or by bike, then it makes sense to give councils across the country the same powers. than in the capital, making our streets safer and trails open to all.’
This is Money contacted the Department of Transportation for a response.
A DfT spokesperson said: “Everyone should be able to travel on their streets without hindrance, and while local authorities already have powers to ban pavement parking through local regulation, we have consulted to help them take action.”
“The response to this will be published in due course.”
The DfT added that through Traffic Regulation Orders using the powers of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and the Greater London Council (General Powers) Act, councils can issue Penalty Charge Notices ( “parking tickets”) to offending vehicles and have the power to remove the vehicles. that are parked illegally.
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