Pavement parking consultation opens

Pavement parking could be banned under plans to stop motorists obstructing pedestrian footways.

The government has opened a public consultation on the issue, with a range of potential options available to local authorities, including powers to ban motorists from parking on pavements.

The problem is particularly bad in parts of Hertford, with Ware Road, Pinehurst and Bengeo seeing high numbers of vehicles parked on pavements. 

Under current legislation, pavement parking is only illegal in London, but new measures being consulted on could extend this to the whole of the UK.

Pavement parking has been prohibited in London since 1974. While successive governments have recognised there is no perfect solution to this complex problem, I believe it is time to look again at this issue in detail. Following the DfT’s detailed review of pavement parking and the government’s response to the Transport Committee’s 2019 report on pavement parking (published 12 March 2020) this consultation seeks your views on some options to help local authorities to tackle this problem.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport

Recent research from charity Guide Dogs indicated that 32% of people with visual impairments and 48% of wheelchair users are less keen to go out on their own because of antisocial pavement parking.

Stephen Edwards, Director of Policy and Communications of charity Living Streets said: "Pavement parking forces people with wheelchairs, buggies and those living with sight loss into the road and into oncoming traffic.   

"We’re regularly contacted at Living Streets by disabled and older people who feel trapped in their homes because there isn’t enough room on the pavement for wheelchairs or mobility scooters. This has impacted more people during the pandemic with blocked pavements affecting everyone’s ability to physically distance."

In March this year the Local Government Association’s transport spokesman Cllr David Renard said: "The LGA has long-called for the ban on pavement parking to be extended to all areas of England, with councils able to make exemptions, so we are pleased government has announced proposals to introduce this.

"Pavement parking and damaged pavements is one of the biggest complaints from pedestrians - and not just in London.

"Similarly, repairing kerbs and pavements damaged by pavement parking is expensive and this funding could be better used to repair potholes and provide more suitable parking."

The AA has warned against an outright ban on pavement parking. Edmund King, AA president said: "It is right that anti-social pavement parking, which prevents and restricts wheelchair users, blind and partially sighted people and pushchairs travelling around our communities must be tackled. However, a blanket ban would be a step too far.

"A street-by-street assessment is needed to decide where it may be suitable to allow pavement parking. Where pavement parking is allowed, seven out of 10 drivers say the bays should be marked out to show how much of the pavement can be used."

Members of the public can comment on the proposals by visiting the government's Managing pavement parking consultation pages.