Not a day goes by without Swindonians from all corners of town taking to social media to complain about parking. Well maybe that is about to change.
A cross-party group of MPs are calling for a blanket nationwide ban on the “blight” of car parking on pavements.
As well as being dangerous, with children in prams or people in wheelchairs having to go into the road as they cannot safely pass on the pavement, it is potentially illegal too.
The cross-party group have recommended that ministers ban pavement parking across England, and give local councils the powers to crack down on what they dubbed “anti-social parking behaviour”.
Lilian Greenwood MP, who chairs the transport committee, said: “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.
“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 expressly permitted it was illegal to park their car on the pavement,”
Swindon’s Cllr David Renard, who is the transport spokesman for the Local Government Association welcomes the ban.
“We are pleased that the Committee has joined the LGA in recommending an extension to the ban on pavement parking to all areas of England.
“Pavement parking and damaged pavements is one of the biggest complaints from pedestrians – and not just in London. Similarly, repairing kerbs and pavements damaged by pavement parking is expensive and this funding could be better used to repair potholes and provide more suitable parking.
“We urge government to bring forward legislation to ban pavement parking, with councils able to create exemptions if they want to, and steps to facilitate a transition to a new law, at the earliest opportunity.”
