Powers to ban pavement parking need to be extended to all areas
across England to save lives and make our streets safer, more
than three years after a government consultation to introduce
them ended, according to a new report published by the Local
Government Association (LGA).
Older and disabled people, including those who use wheelchairs,
as well as parents with pushchairs and younger children are all
forced to navigate around vehicles which are mounted on the kerb
or across the footway, potentially risking their lives by
stepping into the road and oncoming traffic. This also presents a
hazard to blind and partially sighted people.
Parking on the pavement can also crack and damage the surface,
creating trip and injury hazards as well as leading to costly
repairs and maintenance.
Pavement parking is currently only banned in London, where
councils have powers to exempt certain roads. The Government
held a consultation on extending this ban to all councils in the
rest of England, which ended over three years ago but an
announcement has yet to be made. 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 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.
The 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.
Cllr , transport spokesperson for
the LGA, said:
“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.”
Notes to Editors
LGA publication: The path
to inclusive footways
