Growing calls for councils to ban dangerous pavement parking

Particularly in areas with schools, parks, or development projects, roads can quickly build up with vehicles meaning that there are often limited spaces left to park.

This often results in some residents parking on the pavement, much to the frustration of pedestrians who are forced to walk into the road to get past.

It is a particular concern for parents with young children as well as vulnerable, disabled, or wheelchair-using residents as it increases the risk of a collision with a car.

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Pavement parking had been a particular issue around Chain Lane with the Ashurst school development (Image: Contributed)
In St Helens, previous incidents of this have been reported around St Bartholomew's school in Rainhill, Newton-le-Willows primary school, Ashurst primary school in Blackbrook, St Julies primary school in Eccleston, Grosvenor Road near Taylor Park and more.

It is also an issue felt across the country, with a growing number of councils calling on the government to ban pavement parking across England.

It has been illegal to park on the pavement in London since 1974, with fines ranging from £50 to £130, so local leaders are calling for these powers to be extended to all local authority areas.

A resident having to walk around cars on Grosvenor Road in 2019 (Image: Contributed)
A recent study commissioned by the Local Government Association (LGA) warned that wheelchair users, older people and parents with pushchairs are among those put at risk by having to navigate around vehicles mounted on kerbs.

The investigation found some vehicles cause “a complete obstruction to someone walking or wheeling”, meaning they have “no option but to enter the carriageway to continue their journey”.

Pavement parking can also damage the surface, creating trip hazards and leading to costly repairs, with the study recommending that pavement parking should be banned across England.

The LGA said a change in the rules is “long overdue” and would help councils protect older and vulnerable people from injury, as well as support national targets to increase levels of walking and cycling.

Police officers have been known to observe dangerous parking hotspots near schools (Image: Merseyside Police)
LGA transport spokesman Darren Rodwell 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.”

Police have visited numerous schools due to this issue (Image: Merseyside Police)
A Department for Transport (DfT) consultation on giving councils in the rest of the country the power to prohibit pavement parking ended in November 2020, but no announcement has yet been made.

A DfT spokesperson said: “Everyone should be able to navigate their streets without obstacles, and while local authorities already have powers to prohibit pavement parking through local regulation, we have consulted on further helping them take action.

“The response to this will be published in due course.”