Pavement parking – why you may soon be BANNED from street parking and face a HEFTY fine

Inconsiderate motorists who are mounting the curb and parking on the pavement could be soon banned form doing so and face a fine if they are caught. 

The Times reported that the Department for Transport is ‘examine pavement parking outside London’ in 2016, as part of their cycling and walking investment strategy.

Drivers could also face a fine of up to £70 if they are caught, should the ban be passed.

The Local Government Association is hoping that they are given more power to put the ban forward, saying that it is putting pedestrians at risk. 

Pavement parkers force drivers on to the road to walk around the obstruction, which could be extremely dangerous for people with pushchairs, guide dogs or the blind. 

LGA hope that the pavement ban which is in force across London and has been since 1974 can be extended outside the capital.

The law that is currently in force in London states that: “You must not park partially or wholly on the pavement in London, and should not do so elsewhere unless signs permit it. 

“Parking on the pavement can obstruct and seriously inconvenience pedestrians, people in wheelchairs or with visual impairments and people with prams or pushchairs.”

The law is not as heavily enforced outside of the capital, with drivers only banned from parking on double or single yellow lines. 

Currently local authorities who want to stop pavement parkers must use Traffic Regulation Orders, which they claim are time-consuming, bureaucratic and expensive. 

Martin Tett, transport spokesman at the LGA, which represents more than 370 councils in England and Wales, said it “seems a nonsense” that those outside London do not have more control to stop pavement parking.

He said: “Local authorities need this power to respond to concerns raised by their communities, for example if a street is becoming dangerously congested or pedestrians are being forced to step out into the street to get round parked vehicles.

“This is particularly dangerous for blind or partially sighted people and mums and dads with prams.”

The LGA believe that if a fine was implemented, the money raised from it could be used to repair kerbs, verges and pavements damaged by vehicle tyres.