The government has embarked on a nationwide consultation to find solutions to the problems posed by motorists parking on pavements.
The consultation period began on 31 August and will run until 22 November. The full consultation document can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/managing-pavement-parking/pavement-parking-options-for-change
Alternative formats including Braille and audio CD are available by contacting pavement.parking@dft.gov.uk.
Announcing the consultation, Baroness Vere of Norbiton, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Transport (DfT), said the government is determined to make sure that disabled people have the same access to transport as everyone else, and that they can travel easily, with confidence and without extra cost.
Since 1974, parking on pavements has been prohibited in Greater London with exemptions at specific locations. A national prohibition was enacted in Scotland in November 2019 but has yet to come into force. Elsewhere in England parking on pavements and verges is permitted unless specifically prohibited by a local authority.
The DfT is seeking views on whether its ongoing work to improve the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process, under which local authorities can already prohibit pavement parking, is sufficient and proportionate to tackle pavement parking where it is a problem.
It is also asking respondents to comment on two options for change – either allowing local authorities to take enforcement action against “unnecessary obstruction of the pavement”’ or introducing a London-style ban on pavement parking throughout England.
Of the 68 local authority responses to a survey carried out by the DfT, 57 reported that pavement parking was a widespread problem in their area.
The findings confirmed that vulnerable pedestrians are most at risk, and in particular: people with visual impairments; people who use mobility aids, including guide dogs, wheelchairs, and mobility scooters; young children and people with prams and pushchairs.
A review of surveys carried out by organisations representing disabled people, as well as cycling and walking, and the correspondence submitted by members of the public provided anecdotal evidence of pedestrians being injured or very nearly injured, because of vehicles parking on pavements.
The surveys indicated that 95 per cent of visually impaired people had had a problem with vehicles parked on pavements in the previous year. This figure rose to 98 per cent of wheelchair users. Research found that 32 per cent of respondents with vision impairments were less willing to go out on their own because of pavement parking. The figure was 48 per cent for wheelchair users.
Among the questions in the consultation are whether respondents consider pavement parking to be a problem, what sort of action should be taken against offenders and what impact a ban would have on businesses.
