The effects of pavement parking on people with mobility issues, the blind and parents with buggies has prompted East Riding councillors to call for long-promised action on the issue.

East Riding councillors backed Cllr John Bovill's call for the Government to provide updates on its Pavement Parking Bill introduced in 2019 which promised action on the issue. Cllr Bovill said verge parking was also leaving behind churned up patches of land and claimed it was unclear whether the council or Humberside Police were responsible for enforcement.

It comes as the Department for Transport stated 57 of the 68 local authorities it surveyed as part of work on its bill reported pavement parking was a widespread problem. The Department added improving the existing traffic regulation system, giving councils enforcement powers against pavement parking or banning it entirely were among the options being considered.

But responses to a consultation done earlier this year are yet to be published. The motion backed by councillors called on the Government to get that done.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Bovill told councillors Hull West and Hessle MP had asked for updates on it and had been told to expect more details soon but was still waiting. The Hessle ward member added costs to the council were mounting in the meantime.

The Government promised to tackle pavement parking in 2019 but changes are yet to materialise

Cllr Bovill said: "One of the most common issues I've had to deal with is pavement parking, either on or half on and half off the pavement. The problems this creates includes making it so that people with mobility problems or who are visually impaired struggle to navigate the pavements.

"Parents with buggies also struggle because of it. Verge parking damages grass and leaves churned up patches of land including in central reservations..

"There's a grey area over whether you can or cannot park in some places, or whose responsible for enforcement.

"The Government has made a laudable attempt to start trying to deal with it but every time our MP asks about it she's told to expect new information soon and nothing happens."

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/hull-east-yorkshire-news/disabled-blind-parents-buggies-struggling-8808304?int_source=nba

On 09/10/2023 09:43 am, Simon Mason wrote:

> The effects of pavement parking on people with mobility issues, the blind and parents with buggies has prompted East Riding councillors to call for long-promised action on the issue.
>
> East Riding councillors backed Cllr John Bovill's call for the Government to provide updates on its Pavement Parking Bill introduced in 2019 which promised action on the issue. Cllr Bovill said verge parking was also leaving behind churned up patches of land and claimed it was unclear whether the council or Humberside Police were responsible for enforcement.

IF:

(a) it is not clear to East Riding CC that it has responsibility for
enforcing the law on so-called "pavement-parking", then it doesn't have
that responsibility, and

(b) it is not clear to the relevant police force that it has
responsibility for enforcing the law on so-called "pavement-parking",
then it too doesn't have that responsibility.

Power and responsibility for enforcing the law is not a
catch-as-catch-can. It has to be clearly conferred by *law*.

At a guess, though, I'd say that the council knows full well that it is
not a police function (because parking on the footway, for good or ill,
is not a traffic offence outside London).

The council simply doesn't want to go to the trouble of fulfilling its
responsibilities. It'd rather spend its resources on pet projects and
councillors' allowances (and I bet there's "no lack of clarity" as to
its powers and responsibilities there).

JNugent <jnugent@mail.com> wrote:
> On 09/10/2023 09:43 am, Simon Mason wrote:
>
>> The effects of pavement parking on people with mobility issues, the
>> blind and parents with buggies has prompted East Riding councillors to
>> call for long-promised action on the issue.
>>
>> East Riding councillors backed Cllr John Bovill's call for the
>> Government to provide updates on its Pavement Parking Bill introduced in
>> 2019 which promised action on the issue. Cllr Bovill said verge parking
>> was also leaving behind churned up patches of land and claimed it was
>> unclear whether the council or Humberside Police were responsible for enforcement.
>
> IF:
>
> (a) it is not clear to East Riding CC that it has responsibility for
> enforcing the law on so-called "pavement-parking", then it doesn't have
> that responsibility, and
>
> (b) it is not clear to the relevant police force that it has
> responsibility for enforcing the law on so-called "pavement-parking",
> then it too doesn't have that responsibility.
>
> Power and responsibility for enforcing the law is not a
> catch-as-catch-can. It has to be clearly conferred by *law*.
>
> At a guess, though, I'd say that the council knows full well that it is
> not a police function (because parking on the footway, for good or ill,
> is not a traffic offence outside London).
>
> The council simply doesn't want to go to the trouble of fulfilling its
> responsibilities. It'd rather spend its resources on pet projects and
> councillors' allowances (and I bet there's "no lack of clarity" as to
> its powers and responsibilities there).
>
>

Cyclists on pavements are far more of an issue. As we saw recently when one
killed herself and an innocent pedestrian she harassed was jailed.

Brian <noinv@lid.org> wrote:
> JNugent <jnugent@mail.com> wrote:
>> On 09/10/2023 09:43 am, Simon Mason wrote:
>>
>>> The effects of pavement parking on people with mobility issues, the
>>> blind and parents with buggies has prompted East Riding councillors to
>>> call for long-promised action on the issue.
>>>
>>> East Riding councillors backed Cllr John Bovill's call for the
>>> Government to provide updates on its Pavement Parking Bill introduced in
>>> 2019 which promised action on the issue. Cllr Bovill said verge parking
>>> was also leaving behind churned up patches of land and claimed it was
>>> unclear whether the council or Humberside Police were responsible for enforcement.
>>
>> IF:
>>
>> (a) it is not clear to East Riding CC that it has responsibility for
>> enforcing the law on so-called "pavement-parking", then it doesn't have
>> that responsibility, and
>>
>> (b) it is not clear to the relevant police force that it has
>> responsibility for enforcing the law on so-called "pavement-parking",
>> then it too doesn't have that responsibility.
>>
>> Power and responsibility for enforcing the law is not a
>> catch-as-catch-can. It has to be clearly conferred by *law*.
>>
>> At a guess, though, I'd say that the council knows full well that it is
>> not a police function (because parking on the footway, for good or ill,
>> is not a traffic offence outside London).
>>
>> The council simply doesn't want to go to the trouble of fulfilling its
>> responsibilities. It'd rather spend its resources on pet projects and
>> councillors' allowances (and I bet there's "no lack of clarity" as to
>> its powers and responsibilities there).

> Cyclists on pavements are far more of an issue. As we saw recently when one
> killed herself and an innocent pedestrian she harassed was jailed.

My view is that cyclists are trying to sex-up the issue of pavement parking
so that they will have a clear run should something get done about it.
Right now, pavement parkers are the pedestrian’s friend, by keeping the
cyclist menace to a minimum.

--
Spike

On 09/10/2023 04:28 pm, Brian wrote:
> JNugent <jnugent@mail.com> wrote:
>> On 09/10/2023 09:43 am, Simon Mason wrote:
>>
>>> The effects of pavement parking on people with mobility issues, the
>>> blind and parents with buggies has prompted East Riding councillors to
>>> call for long-promised action on the issue.
>>>
>>> East Riding councillors backed Cllr John Bovill's call for the
>>> Government to provide updates on its Pavement Parking Bill introduced in
>>> 2019 which promised action on the issue. Cllr Bovill said verge parking
>>> was also leaving behind churned up patches of land and claimed it was
>>> unclear whether the council or Humberside Police were responsible for enforcement.
>>
>> IF:
>>
>> (a) it is not clear to East Riding CC that it has responsibility for
>> enforcing the law on so-called "pavement-parking", then it doesn't have
>> that responsibility, and
>>
>> (b) it is not clear to the relevant police force that it has
>> responsibility for enforcing the law on so-called "pavement-parking",
>> then it too doesn't have that responsibility.
>>
>> Power and responsibility for enforcing the law is not a
>> catch-as-catch-can. It has to be clearly conferred by *law*.
>>
>> At a guess, though, I'd say that the council knows full well that it is
>> not a police function (because parking on the footway, for good or ill,
>> is not a traffic offence outside London).
>>
>> The council simply doesn't want to go to the trouble of fulfilling its
>> responsibilities. It'd rather spend its resources on pet projects and
>> councillors' allowances (and I bet there's "no lack of clarity" as to
>> its powers and responsibilities there).
>>
>>
>
> Cyclists on pavements are far more of an issue. As we saw recently when one
> killed herself and an innocent pedestrian she harassed was jailed.

Talking of cyclists (and their fairy-cycles) on pavements, here's one
for May Sun.

<https://ibb.co/3yBBhC2>

SFW.

Of course, he'll pretend he hasn't seen it, even though he reacts to
every thread and every post on ukrc.

On 09/10/2023 05:09 pm, Spike wrote:
> Brian <noinv@lid.org> wrote:
>> JNugent <jnugent@mail.com> wrote:
>>> On 09/10/2023 09:43 am, Simon Mason wrote:
>>>
>>>> The effects of pavement parking on people with mobility issues, the
>>>> blind and parents with buggies has prompted East Riding councillors to
>>>> call for long-promised action on the issue.
>>>>
>>>> East Riding councillors backed Cllr John Bovill's call for the
>>>> Government to provide updates on its Pavement Parking Bill introduced in
>>>> 2019 which promised action on the issue. Cllr Bovill said verge parking
>>>> was also leaving behind churned up patches of land and claimed it was
>>>> unclear whether the council or Humberside Police were responsible for enforcement.
>>>
>>> IF:
>>>
>>> (a) it is not clear to East Riding CC that it has responsibility for
>>> enforcing the law on so-called "pavement-parking", then it doesn't have
>>> that responsibility, and
>>>
>>> (b) it is not clear to the relevant police force that it has
>>> responsibility for enforcing the law on so-called "pavement-parking",
>>> then it too doesn't have that responsibility.
>>>
>>> Power and responsibility for enforcing the law is not a
>>> catch-as-catch-can. It has to be clearly conferred by *law*.
>>>
>>> At a guess, though, I'd say that the council knows full well that it is
>>> not a police function (because parking on the footway, for good or ill,
>>> is not a traffic offence outside London).
>>>
>>> The council simply doesn't want to go to the trouble of fulfilling its
>>> responsibilities. It'd rather spend its resources on pet projects and
>>> councillors' allowances (and I bet there's "no lack of clarity" as to
>>> its powers and responsibilities there).
>
>> Cyclists on pavements are far more of an issue. As we saw recently when one
>> killed herself and an innocent pedestrian she harassed was jailed.
>
> My view is that cyclists are trying to sex-up the issue of pavement parking
> so that they will have a clear run should something get done about it.
> Right now, pavement parkers are the pedestrian’s friend, by keeping the
> cyclist menace to a minimum.

Exactly.

The Government promised to tackle pavement parking in 2019 but changes are yet to materialise.

https://i2-prod.hulldailymail.co.uk/incoming/article7094941.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200e/1_pavement_parking1.jpg

https://i2-prod.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/incoming/article2981043.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_DAH_HMB_14062019_pavement_7479JPG.jpg

JNugent <jnugent@mail.com> wrote:
> On 09/10/2023 04:28 pm, Brian wrote:
>> JNugent <jnugent@mail.com> wrote:
>>> On 09/10/2023 09:43 am, Simon Mason wrote:
>>>
>>>> The effects of pavement parking on people with mobility issues, the
>>>> blind and parents with buggies has prompted East Riding councillors to
>>>> call for long-promised action on the issue.
>>>>
>>>> East Riding councillors backed Cllr John Bovill's call for the
>>>> Government to provide updates on its Pavement Parking Bill introduced in
>>>> 2019 which promised action on the issue. Cllr Bovill said verge parking
>>>> was also leaving behind churned up patches of land and claimed it was
>>>> unclear whether the council or Humberside Police were responsible for enforcement.
>>>
>>> IF:
>>>
>>> (a) it is not clear to East Riding CC that it has responsibility for
>>> enforcing the law on so-called "pavement-parking", then it doesn't have
>>> that responsibility, and
>>>
>>> (b) it is not clear to the relevant police force that it has
>>> responsibility for enforcing the law on so-called "pavement-parking",
>>> then it too doesn't have that responsibility.
>>>
>>> Power and responsibility for enforcing the law is not a
>>> catch-as-catch-can. It has to be clearly conferred by *law*.
>>>
>>> At a guess, though, I'd say that the council knows full well that it is
>>> not a police function (because parking on the footway, for good or ill,
>>> is not a traffic offence outside London).
>>>
>>> The council simply doesn't want to go to the trouble of fulfilling its
>>> responsibilities. It'd rather spend its resources on pet projects and
>>> councillors' allowances (and I bet there's "no lack of clarity" as to
>>> its powers and responsibilities there).
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Cyclists on pavements are far more of an issue. As we saw recently when one
>> killed herself and an innocent pedestrian she harassed was jailed.
>
> Talking of cyclists (and their fairy-cycles) on pavements, here's one
> for May Sun.
>
> <https://ibb.co/3yBBhC2>
>
> SFW.
>
> Of course, he'll pretend he hasn't seen it, even though he reacts to
> every thread and every post on ukrc.

One day, I went to visit my local library, quite a nice place with ornate
steps up to the main entrance. It also had a long ramp access having
railings each side. Half way along the slope was a notice that said “Please
do not chain bicycles to these railings”.

Yes, you’ve guessed it…what else could it be but a bicycle chained to the
railings, right under the notice. Completely blocking the way, either in or
out, for wheelchair users.

--
Spike

A charity for visually impaired people has urged the Government to do more to crack down on pavement parking.

The Government consulted on options to tackle pavement parking in 2020, and received over 15,000 responses.

However, the Guide Dogs charity said that there had been ‘no progress’ on this issue and called for the introduction of tighter national restrictions.

New research conducted by YouGov on behalf of Guide Dogs found that only one in five (22%) councillors believe their current powers to tackle pavement parking were sufficient and four in 10 say that residents contact them at least once a month about pavement parking.

The polling also found the majority (95%) of councillors in England said pavement parking created a safety risk for pedestrians with a vision impairment, with 70% admitting pavement parking is a problem in their area.

Eleanor Briggs, head of policy, public affairs and campaigns at Guide Dogs, said: ‘The message from the public and local councillors is clear; our streets are not safe because of cars blocking pavements. The Government need to act now as local councils don’t have the powers they need..

‘Parking on pavements is a nuisance for everyone, but potentially dangerous if you are a wheelchair user forced onto the road, pushing a child in a buggy or have sight loss and can’t see traffic coming towards you.’

Residents and businesses are being urged to share their views on new proposals to ban pavement parking in the city centre as Sheffield City Council shares plans to introduce new powers to tackle inconsiderate and dangerous parking.

The introduction of a Traffic Regulation Order in the New Year would allow parking enforcement officers to clamp down on drivers who park on the pavement. Fines for £70 (£35 if paid within 14 days) will apply under the new rules.

The ban will be enforced across the city centre in phases and will include some of the busiest streets such as West Street and Arundel Gate. Signs will inform drivers of the ban.

The police can still fine drivers for obstructing the footway.

Councillor Douglas Johnson, Executive Member for Executive Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport at Sheffield City Council said:

“We know that pavement parking is a real problem in the city centre, with parked cars causing dangers and inconvenience for people every-day, as it restricts access and often forces people out into the road. People using wheelchairs and prams are often most affected.

“This proposed ban will help to make sure that people can get where they want to go safely and easily. We need to make sure that our city centre is inclusive and accessible for everyone who visits and we’re taking this step to stop people parking selfishly and hindering others.

“We receive a high number of complaints about pavement parking and I’m pleased that we’re now able to take this action which will hopefully act as a deterrent to those who choose to break the rules. There are plenty of on-street and off-street cark parks in the city centre that are available to use, and I want it to be clear that parking on the pavement is not an option.”

Parking enforcement officers can currently fine drivers for parking on the pavement or grass verges if they have parked on a street with waiting restrictions i.e. yellow lines. Under the new plans, fines can also be issued to vehicles parked on a footpath next to:

Controlled crossing zigzags
Bus stop clearways
Parking bays
Unrestricted roads

Residents and business affected by the proposals will be contacted directly to inform them of the plans with the opportunity to provide feedback. They will be able to flag up any real difficulties that the proposals could cause them, which will be considered by the council.

On 09/10/2023 09:53 pm, Spike wrote:
> JNugent <jnugent@mail.com> wrote:
>> On 09/10/2023 04:28 pm, Brian wrote:
>>> JNugent <jnugent@mail.com> wrote:
>>>> On 09/10/2023 09:43 am, Simon Mason wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> The effects of pavement parking on people with mobility issues, the
>>>>> blind and parents with buggies has prompted East Riding councillors to
>>>>> call for long-promised action on the issue.
>>>>>
>>>>> East Riding councillors backed Cllr John Bovill's call for the
>>>>> Government to provide updates on its Pavement Parking Bill introduced in
>>>>> 2019 which promised action on the issue. Cllr Bovill said verge parking
>>>>> was also leaving behind churned up patches of land and claimed it was
>>>>> unclear whether the council or Humberside Police were responsible for enforcement.
>>>>
>>>> IF:
>>>>
>>>> (a) it is not clear to East Riding CC that it has responsibility for
>>>> enforcing the law on so-called "pavement-parking", then it doesn't have
>>>> that responsibility, and
>>>>
>>>> (b) it is not clear to the relevant police force that it has
>>>> responsibility for enforcing the law on so-called "pavement-parking",
>>>> then it too doesn't have that responsibility.
>>>>
>>>> Power and responsibility for enforcing the law is not a
>>>> catch-as-catch-can. It has to be clearly conferred by *law*.
>>>>
>>>> At a guess, though, I'd say that the council knows full well that it is
>>>> not a police function (because parking on the footway, for good or ill,
>>>> is not a traffic offence outside London).
>>>>
>>>> The council simply doesn't want to go to the trouble of fulfilling its
>>>> responsibilities. It'd rather spend its resources on pet projects and
>>>> councillors' allowances (and I bet there's "no lack of clarity" as to
>>>> its powers and responsibilities there).
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> Cyclists on pavements are far more of an issue. As we saw recently when one
>>> killed herself and an innocent pedestrian she harassed was jailed.
>>
>> Talking of cyclists (and their fairy-cycles) on pavements, here's one
>> for May Sun.
>>
>> <https://ibb.co/3yBBhC2>
>>
>> SFW.
>>
>> Of course, he'll pretend he hasn't seen it, even though he reacts to
>> every thread and every post on ukrc.
>
> One day, I went to visit my local library, quite a nice place with ornate
> steps up to the main entrance. It also had a long ramp access having
> railings each side. Half way along the slope was a notice that said “Please
> do not chain bicycles to these railings”.
>
> Yes, you’ve guessed it…what else could it be but a bicycle chained to the
> railings, right under the notice. Completely blocking the way, either in or
> out, for wheelchair users.

Entirely predictable. Business premises in Central London are often
forced to display similar notices.

Removing a fairy-bike chained to and damaging the utility of one's own
property cannot be an offence. Clearing it from the footway and
carriageway by hurling it into the back of a pickup truck used for the
purpose is a public duty.

JNugent <jnugent@mail.com> wrote:
> On 09/10/2023 09:53 pm, Spike wrote:

>> One day, I went to visit my local library, quite a nice place with ornate
>> steps up to the main entrance. It also had a long ramp access having
>> railings each side. Half way along the slope was a notice that said “Please
>> do not chain bicycles to these railings”.
>>
>> Yes, you’ve guessed it…what else could it be but a bicycle chained to the
>> railings, right under the notice. Completely blocking the way, either in or
>> out, for wheelchair users.
>
> Entirely predictable. Business premises in Central London are often
> forced to display similar notices.
>
> Removing a fairy-bike chained to and damaging the utility of one's own
> property cannot be an offence. Clearing it from the footway and
> carriageway by hurling it into the back of a pickup truck used for the
> purpose is a public duty.

I’m mildly surprised that the owner of the offending cycle didn’t return to
find two flat tyres.

--
Spike

THE WELSH Government is looking to clamp down on pavement parking.

Problem parking on pavements is an issue in many parts of Wales, but is not currently a specified offence.

Police can enforce the existing criminal offence of causing 'unnecessary obstruction of any part of the highway’.

In 2020, the Welsh Government received a report from the Welsh Pavement Parking Taskforce on the issue.

It rejected an outright ban on pavement parking but recommended that councils are given additional powers to tackle problem areas. Now, the Welsh Government is moving ahead with consulting on those extra powers being given to local authorities.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: "The Deputy Minister for Climate Change has agreed in principle to proceed with the additional recommendations made by the Welsh Pavement Parking Taskforce.

"The Welsh Government will therefore consult on the proposal to permit local authorities to enforce the unnecessary obstruction of the road as a parking contravention by way of civil enforcement.

"It is proposed that the police will also retain the ability to enforce the offence as a criminal matter, as well as the new civil enforcement powers by local authorities."

Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters, said: "The Taskforce examined the feasibility of using the existing offence of obstruction of the road to address the issue of pavement parking. This approach could deliver additional benefits, allowing local authorities in Wales to deal with both pavement parking and also parked vehicles obstructing our roads.

"The Pavement Parking Taskforce has subsequently provided an addendum to their original report and recommended that this is the best way forward. I have accepted this recommendation and now propose to consult widely prior with a view to introducing the necessary legislation by the end of 2023."

On 10/10/2023 05:05 pm, Simon Mason wrote:

> THE WELSH Government is looking to clamp down on pavement parking.
>
> Problem parking on pavements is an issue in many parts of Wales, but is not currently a specified offence.

Make a note of that, will you, Master Rich? There are no charges.
>
> Police can enforce the existing criminal offence of causing 'unnecessary obstruction of any part of the highway’.

And all they need then to do is define "unnecessary".

Perhaps more difficult than it at first sounds before a bench of people
who all drive and are well aware of the difficulties faced by drivers
when needing to step of their vehicle for a time.

> In 2020, the Welsh Government received a report from the Welsh Pavement Parking Taskforce on the issue.
>
> It rejected an outright ban on pavement parking

Make a note of that, will you, Master Rich? There are no charges.

> but recommended that councils are given additional powers to tackle problem areas. Now, the Welsh Government is moving ahead with consulting on those extra powers being given to local authorities.

Sounds at least a little sensible.

> A Welsh Government spokesperson said: "The Deputy Minister for Climate Change has agreed in principle to proceed with the additional recommendations made by the Welsh Pavement Parking Taskforce.

What does it have to do with "climate change"? Especially if a driver
has to do more distance in order to park?
>
> "The Welsh Government will therefore consult on the proposal to permit local authorities to enforce the unnecessary obstruction of the road as a parking contravention by way of civil enforcement.

And all they need then to do is define "unnecessary".
>
> "It is proposed that the police will also retain the ability to enforce the offence as a criminal matter,

But it is NOT an offence! That has already been stated, twice, above.

> as well as the new civil enforcement powers by local authorities."
>
> Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters, said: "The Taskforce examined the feasibility of using the existing offence of obstruction of the road to address the issue of pavement parking.

No... it's *unnecessary* obstruction of the road.

And all they need then to do is define "unnecessary".

> This approach could deliver additional benefits, allowing local authorities in Wales to deal with both pavement parking and also parked vehicles obstructing our roads.

And all they need then to do is define "unnecessary".
>
> "The Pavement Parking Taskforce has subsequently provided an addendum to their original report and recommended that this is the best way forward. I have accepted this recommendation and now propose to consult widely prior with a view to introducing the necessary legislation by the end of 2023."

Will it define all its terms in Clause 1 of the proposed Bill?

[I do realise that that's an unfair question to ask May Sun, since he
doesn't know what it means.]

A CROSS-PARTY group of MPs has called on the government to ban drivers from blocking footpaths by parking their cars on the kerb.

The Commons’ Transport Select Committee has recommended new laws should be introduced in England to clamp down on pavement parking, in order to make footpaths across the country safer and easier for pedestrians and other local residents to use.

Though parking on pavements isn’t technically illegal in many parts of England without a sign in the area saying otherwise, drivers have been forbidden from parking their vehicles on footpaths in London since 1974, and the devolved government in Scotland is currently legislating for a national pavement parking ban.

Even in areas where the practice is not illegal, drivers can still be penalised for blocking a footpath with their parked car, as police forces have the power to fine guilty motorists with an “offence of obstruction”.

According to research consulted by the committee, blocking a footpath by partially or wholly parking a car on it can have a significantly detrimental impact on people who need to use the pavement to get around. Wheelchair users, disabled people and parents with young children and push chairs were singled out as groups who were disproportionately affected by the issue, as the parked cars would make it difficult or impossible for them to safely use the footpath.

In the most extreme cases, certain instances of pavement parking (in particular, on dropped kerbs that allow access to a resident’s driveway) were deemed to exacerbate social isolation and loneliness, by preventing people from being able to safely leave their homes.

The committee said pavement parking has the additional adverse affect of accelerating the wear and tear of kerbs and footpaths, many of which it was claimed were never designed to take the weight of a car. As well the danger of trip hazards from broken and uneven pavement surfaces, local authorities are stung by the extra cost of having to repair footpaths damaged by pavement parking.

The Transport Select Committee said that in the long term this should be combated by banning pavement parking and making it a criminal offence. The cross-party group also recommends this should be complemented by a campaign to make motorists more aware of the adverse impact pavement parking can have on pedestrians and residents.

Lilian Greenwood MP, chair of the Transport Select Committee, said: “Pavement parking has a huge impact on people’s lives and their ability get around their communities. Motorists may 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 inquiry revealed the impact on those with visual and mobility impairments and people with children.

“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 pavement parking and individuals afraid or unable to leave their homes or safely navigate the streets.”