Councils to get new powers to stop pavement parking

Councils will be given new powers to crackdown on pavement parking.

City councillors say the proposals are long overdue, as the lives of disabled people have been “blighted by inconsiderate parking” for years.

The Government announced on Thursday that local authorities will be able to introduce restrictions on pavement parking across wider areas.

It said councils’ ability to take action has previously been limited to individual streets and has required lengthy, complex processes.

Independent councillor and disability campaigner Elena Round said: “I welcome the government’s proposals – these are long overdue.

“For too long the lives of disabled people have been blighted by the inconsiderate parking of others.

“People in wheelchairs, the visually impaired and those with limited mobility have been unable to have access to their own communities because of the selfishness of others and have been forced to risk their personal safety by having to walk in the road to get around cars blocking the pavement.

“I am concerned the proposals require individual councils to introduce their own laws as it is not a national implementation. There is therefore a risk of inconsistency between authorities.”

Lib Dem councillor Jessie Jagger said pavement parking is “a real problem in Claines”, particularly people with wheelchairs, pushchairs or mobility issues.

“Lots of elderly residents don’t feel safe going out because of the number of obstacles they encounter,” she said.

“But before I welcome this, I’m waiting to see how it will work in practice. The big problem is enforcement and there are huge grey areas as to who is responsible.

“It remains to be seen whether this power will come with the resources to enforce it.”

Green councillor Alex Mace welcomed the Government’s announcement but added: “It is disappointing they have stopped short of a nationwide ban.

“Pavements are for people, not cars; pavement parking is not a victimless act.

“Wheelchair users, parents with pushchairs and blind and partially sighted people are all impacted by fly parking.

“To properly solve this we need enforcement action, but also investment in walking and wheeling infrastructure and public transport.

“The reason this problem has got so bad is that many people are forced into owning a car and travelling by car because there aren’t better choices available. It needs to be addressed from both sides.”

A Worcester City Council spokesperson said the authority has no further information to add at this time.