In 2015 our Government promised to look into the issue of pavement parking. What has happened? Very little!
The Transport Committee has criticised the ‘Department for Transport’ for failing to take action on pavement parking, which MPs have been told has a detrimental effect on people’s lives and can lead to social isolation.
Chair of the Transport Committee, Lilian Greenwood, MP
Ms. Greenwood, Chair of the Transport Committee said; “Pavement parking has a huge impact on people’s lives and their abilities to get around their communities. Motorists will feel they have no choice but to park on the pavement and many try to do so in a considerate way, but evidence to our enquiry revealed the impact on those with visual and mobility impairments and people with children.”
She went on to say, “We are deeply concerned that the Government has failed to act on this issue, despite long-standing promises to do so. This is a thorny problem that may be difficult to resolve to the satisfaction of all, but the Government’s inaction has left communities blighted by unsightly and obstructive parking and individual’s afraid or unable to leave their homes or safely navigate the streets.”
“In the long-term we believe the Government should ban pavement parking across England – as is already the case in London. Local authorities could create exemptions if they choose to do so, but drivers would know that unless it was expressively permitted it was illegal to park their car on the pavement.”
“We recognise that implementing a nationwide ban will take time. In the short-term we have said that the Government should make it easier for local authorities to put in place parking restrictions by removing some of the bureaucratic burdens they currently have to contend with. We have also recommended that the Government run an awareness campaign about the negative impacts of pavement parking, to inform drivers about the impact their behaviour has on others.”