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Council Stronger powers will soon be given to crack down on drivers who park on pavements and cause chaos in local areas.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed that “new and improved legal powers” will enable local authorities to Limit sidewalk parking The areas covered are much wider than before.
Under previous regulations, authorities had to apply for paving PARKING Restrictions are often implemented on a street-by-street basis, a process often criticized as slow.
However, Council will still be able to decide where enforcement is most appropriate, allowing them to “retain flexibility in where they believe sidewalk parking is still acceptable.”
The Department for Transport said in a policy paper that it would give parliament new powers to issue fine For those who cause an “unnecessary obstruction” by parking on pavements.
It added that what is considered “non-essential” would be at the discretion of council enforcement officers, but did not specify how it should be defined.
The document said the new legal powers would be delivered “in due course” and would not require “additional traffic signs”.
DfT stands for wider legislation Officials are currently working on a new set of state rules that would apply locally. it follows government advice Radical changes to UK road laws over the next ten years.
Lilian Greenwood, the local transport minister, said: “Clean pavements are vital for people to travel safely and independently, whether they are parents pushing prams, people using wheelchairs, or people who are blind or have low vision.
“That’s why we’re giving local authorities the power to crack down on pavement parking so more people can travel easily and safely and get where they need to go.”
The Department for Transport will “produce guidance” later this year on how local authorities can use the powers in an “appropriate and locally appropriate way”.
Guide Dogs chief executive Andrew Lennox said: “After years of campaigning, we welcome the announcement to give councils greater powers to tackle pavement parking issues.
“Cars blocking pavements are a nuisance for everyone, but are particularly dangerous for people who are blind, who may be forced onto the road without being able to see traffic. Pavement parking is also a barrier that excludes people from their daily lives.
“When footpaths are blocked, people with vision loss lose confidence, independence and the freedom to travel safely. This prevents people from accessing work, education and social opportunities.”