Parking on pavements could be banned across England
Written by News on 09/09/2019
MPs are calling for a ban on motorists parking their cars on pavements because it “puts pedestrians in danger”.
Motorists could reportedly face a £70 fine for mounting the kerb in England after the transport committee branded the activity “anti-social behaviour”.
The committee warned that parking on the pavement “exacerbates isolation and loneliness” because people may be physically stopped from leaving their homes or feel unable to do so safely.
The Scottish Parliament is also currently considering legislation that would ban cars on pavements, while the Welsh government is conducting its own review.
The practice has been banned in London since the 1970s.
The transport committee’s report said pedestrians are put in danger when they are forced into the road by a parked car “or where there are trip hazards due to damage to the pavement”.
People with mobility or visual impairments are “disproportionately affected”, it added.
Committee chairwoman Lilian Greenwood said government “inaction” had left “communities blighted by unsightly and obstructive pavement parking”.
She admitted it was a “thorny problem” and said local authorities could make exemptions if they chose to.
The committee said it recognised a national ban would take time, and suggested the government run an awareness campaign in the meantime.
Pavement parking and damaged pavements is “one of the biggest complaints from pedestrians”, said Councillor David Renard, transport spokesman for the Local Government Association.
Money set aside to repair damaged paving stones would be better spent on filling in potholes, he added.
A Department for Transport spokeswoman said: “We are committed to ensuring that our roads work for everyone, but we are also aware that pavement parking can cause real problems for a variety of road users.
“The department recently concluded a review to better understand the case for changing the law, and ministers will be considering our next steps over the coming months.”
(c) Sky News 2019: Parking on pavements could be banned across England
