DfT looking at pavement parking ban options

The Department for Transport (DfT) is considering options for introducing a pavement parking ban four years after a consultation closed.  

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

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

Transport secretary, Louise Haigh, told MPs on the Transport Committee: “I completely recognise how important it is for accessibility.

“We’re considering what options we have available, because we want to make sure that any measures are not burdensome on local authorities and are done in the most effective way. But I am really committed to responding to the consultation as quickly as possible.”

Earlier this year, councils called on the Government to ban pavement parking. The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents councils in England and Wales, said a change in the rules was 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, detailed the barriers faced by people using the footway and challenges for councils in making them accessible.

This included 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, were also identified as challenges for councils.

Research from Startline Motor Finance, published in February, showed that a majority of people – almost two-thirds (62%) – had given their backing to calls to make it illegal to park on pavements.

The survey showed that 28% think that parking on pavements is “just lazy”, while 23% believe that motorists should leave the way clear for pedestrians and 21% labelled it “annoying”.

However, a similar proportion (24%) said that it is often possible to park on pavements and still leave space for pedestrians and 14% defended themselves by insisting they only park on the pavement to drop someone off or pop into a shop.