Rishi Sunak is reported to be “carefully considering” tightening up parking rules which could see a national ban on vehicles parking on the pavement.
Officials stressed pavement parking was a “complex” issue which was still being looked at ahead of potential rule changes.
The government held a consultation on the future of pavement parking back in 2020 but has yet to issue an official response.
Transport chiefs were forced into delivering an update on the new driving laws after a Parliament petition called for a widespread ban to be introduced.
The poll passed the 10,000 threshold for a reply with over 12,400 people now backing the campaigner’s demands.
Responding to the petition the Department for Transport explained: “This highly important issue is complex and involves many conflicting factors.
“The Government needs to get this right and is carefully considering the issues before deciding the way forward.
“The Minister recognises the importance of this issue to all pedestrians.
“The Department received over 15,000 detailed responses to the consultation including tens of thousands of open comments.
“Every single response has been analysed and we have been giving careful consideration to the findings.
“We want to take the right step for communities and ensure that local authorities have appropriate and effective tools at their disposal.
“We are working through the options and how they can be delivered. Once this is concluded we will publish our formal response to the consultation.
“In the meantime, local authorities have the powers to restrict pavement parking wherever there is a need, by introducing Traffic Regulation Orders.”
One of the options up for deliberation in the consultation was the launch of a national pavement parking prohibition.
This would extend the current London ban across the entire UK with fines issued to anyone breaching the rules.
The consultation claimed a ban would develop a “consistent rule” while local authorities could introduce exemptions at some locations.
However, they warned that a national ban would be the “most significant change to English parking law in several decades”.
They added the scheme would “need a significant implementation period” which could be expensive and time-consuming. The poll was set up by Julie Pilsworth and will run until March 5, 2024.
Outlining their reasons for demanding a ban, campaigners explained: “Parking on pavements poses a serious threat to public safety as cars blocking pavements can force people out on to the road.
“We want the Government to legislate restricting pavement parking, unless an exception is made by a local authority, to ensure that everyone can walk their streets safely.
“Pavement parking affects everyone, but is especially dangerous for people with disabilities, including people with sight loss and wheelchair users, as well as parents with children, and older people.”
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3 comments
Parking.
The idea of a ban on parking on footpaths, and close to certain location’s, ie schools, emergency vehicle exits at hospitals, fire stations, is a good one. – Women with prams, and those who are Partially sighted, have to go out on to the roads to get past these vehicles.
It was mentioned that whilst Dept of Transport are taking their time to look at this, LOCAL AUTHORITIES can introduce it, by amending their own Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs).
Today, Friday 3rd November, it was on the local Northern Ireland news, that there could be fines of up to £90, for any breach of these new rules.
It would have been good if the main story, had included a link to the poll set up by Julie Pilsworth, as it runs until March 2024.
Re possible pavement parking ban ….
This is yet another attack on the motorist – as if Lez, Ulez & Caz weren’t enough. These politicians live in ‘cloud cuckoo land’ and are just seeking more votes from those who don’t drive. Read on…
The majority of roads in the UK were built decades ago (in the age of the horse & cart) when houses were built close together on narrow streets. There was no need for parking. At the end of the day, the horse was put in a stable overnight and the cart behind a locked gate where it could be loaded with stock ready for the next day’s delivery.
Fast fwd to 2023 and we see families with several cars that won’t all fit on their driveway (if they are fortunate enough to have one) so they have no option but to park them on the nearest road, which quite often results in double parking. And when this happens the owners have no choice but to use part of the pavement, if the bin waggon, taxis, ambulance a fire engines are to get through.
So good luck Rishi with your proposal. Yet another idea that’s not been thought through!
Great idea and shocked that guy could get something right for once.