Councils call for pavement parking ban

The Government is being urged to ban pavement parking three years after a consultation closed looking into giving councils powers to enforce a ban.

Pavement parking is currently only banned in London, where councils have powers to exempt certain roads. 

The Government’s consultation, which closed in November 2020, examined the merits of extending this ban to all councils in England.

In Scotland, a nationwide parking ban has just started to be enforced by some councils and a consultation is also set to take place in Wales on introducing restrictions on pavement parking.

The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents councils in England and Wales, said a change in the rules is now long overdue and would help councils meet national targets to encourage more walking and cycling, while protecting older and vulnerable people from injury.

An independent report, produced by Sustrans and Transport for All and commissioned by the LGA, details the barriers faced by people using the footway and challenges for councils in making them accessible.

This includes the lack of space commonly caused by pavement parking, poor surface quality, trip hazards and not enough places to cross the road safely.

Lack of funding, difficulties in maintaining a clear picture of the condition of footways and bureaucratic hurdles in obtaining Traffic Regulation Orders, are also identified as challenges for councils.

Poorer quality pavements can also lead to lower footfall at local businesses and injury claims from people tripping and falling.

For those who are older or impaired, it could also lead to reduced independence, social isolation and exclusion, which could worsen their condition.

Even where people are able to catch buses, the state of some pavements mean they are not always able to board or step off from them safely, says the LGA.

Cllr Darren Rodwell, transport spokesperson for the LGA, explained: “Pavement parking is one of the biggest complaints from pedestrians, but three years on, councils outside of London still do not have the powers they need to tackle this scourge. 

“Vulnerable and disabled people, including wheelchair users as well as parents with pushchairs are forced into the road due to some drivers’ inconsiderate parking, presenting a real hazard and potential danger to life. 

“Repairing kerbs and pavements damaged by pavement parking is also expensive and this funding could be better used to resurface our roads and pavements, support local buses and provide more suitable parking.

“If we are to meet the Government’s ambition for half of all trips in England's towns and cities to be walked, wheeled or cycled by 2030, then it makes sense to give councils across the country the same powers as in the capital, making our streets safer and footpaths open for everyone.”

RAC head of policy, Simon Williams, argues that pavement parking is at best inconvenient and at worst hazardous for pedestrians and those in wheelchairs.

“As long as we’re left waiting for the Government’s response to its 2020 consultation, councils have limited powers to roll out pavement parking controls and make journeys safer for those on wheels and walking,” he said. 

“Rather than an outright ban, we think it would be more effective if local authorities were given enforcement powers to prevent unnecessary pavement obstructions.

“This prevents the need for them having to survey all their roads to work out where exemptions need to be made, then spend money putting up signs and painting new markings.”

A copy of the LGA report, ‘The path to inclusive footways’, can be downloaded here.