Pavement parking: government considers UK ban
Currently it is allowed outside of London, as long as the movement of pedestrians is not impeded.
Thursday 12 March 2020 11:57, UK
A ban on parking on pavements could soon be introduced across the UK.
It is already illegal in London, apart from some specific areas marked by blue signs or white box markings on the road.
Motorists who flout the law in the capital face a mixture of criminal and civil sanctions including fines.
But rest in the country partially parking on the pavement is allowed, with the exception of lorries, as long as pedestrian access is not obstructed.
Now the Department for Transport (DfT) is to consult on whether to give local authorities more power to tackle the issue.
It follows a Commons' Transport Select Committee report last year which called for a blanket nationwide ban on the "blight" of parking on pavements.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "Vehicles parked on the pavement can cause very real difficulties for many pedestrians.
"That's why I am taking action to make pavements safer and I will be launching a consultation to find a long-term solution for this complex issue.
"This will look at a variety of options - including giving local authorities extended powers to crack down on this behaviour."
The select committee's 2019 report heard from witnesses who claimed that the worst cases of pavement parking were effectively trapping disabled, elderly and vulnerable people, making them "afraid to leave their homes".
It concluded that blocked-off walkways were also exacerbating the issue of loneliness in Britain.
The committee' chairman, Huw Merriman, welcomed the new announcement from the DfT, but noted that a similar consultation had take place in 2015, yet little, if anything, had changed.
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, also welcomed the new review, but warned against a total ban.
He said: "We absolutely agree that people who park in an anti-social way should be penalised. Many drivers in narrow streets are tempted to partially park on the pavement so emergency services and refuse trucks can pass.
"An outright ban could lead to unintended consequences with parking chaos becoming more widespread.
"A better solution would be for councils to make a street-by-street assessment and where pavement parking could be allowed it be clearly marked and signed."