Ban on pavement parking backed by MPs

The Transport Committee has criticised the Department for Transport for failing to take action on pavement parking, despite promising to look into the issue in 2015.

MPs have been told that pavement parking has a detrimental effect on people’s lives and can lead to social isolation.

The committee’s new report, Pavement parking, sees the committee call for an outright ban on pavement parking across England in the long-term as part of the government’s Loneliness Strategy, as well as to fund and deploy a national awareness campaign to highlight the negative consequences of pavement parking and publicise to the general public who enforces different types of parking offences.

Lilian Greenwood, chair of the committee, said: “Pavement parking has a huge impact on people's lives and their ability get around their communities. Motorists may feel they have no choice but to park on the pavement and many try to do so in a considerate way, but evidence to our inquiry revealed the impact on those with visual and mobility impairments and people with children.

“We are deeply concerned that the government has failed to act on this issue, despite long-standing promises to do so. This is a thorny problem that may be difficult to resolve to the satisfaction of all, but the government's inaction has left communities blighted by unsightly and obstructive pavement parking and individuals afraid or unable to leave their homes or safely navigate the streets.

“In the long-term we believe the government should ban pavement parking across England - as is already the case in London. Local authorities could create exemptions if they choose to do so, but drivers would know that unless it was expressly permitted it was illegal to park their car on the pavement.

“We recognise that implementing a nationwide ban will take time. In the short-term we have said that they government should make it easier for local authorities to put in place parking restrictions by removing some of the bureaucratic burdens they currently have to contend with. We have also recommended that the government run an awareness campaign about the negative impacts of pavement parking, to inform drivers about the impact their behaviour has on others.”

David Renard, Local Government Association Transport spokesman, said: “We are pleased that the committee has joined the LGA in recommending an extension to the ban on pavement parking to all areas of England.

“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. We urge government to bring forward legislation to ban pavement parking, with councils able to create exemptions if they want to, and steps to facilitate a transition to a new law, at the earliest opportunity.”