Britons want a ban on drivers parking on pavements, as campaigners urge Labour to go much further. Six out of 10 adults (62%) are in favour of banning parking on pavements, with just 27% opposed.
Councils across England will soon gain powers to prohibit pavement parking, but campaigners are pushing for a UK-wide ban. YouGov polling found backing for a ban was strongest among Liberal Democrat voters (70%) – ahead of supporters of the Tories (68%), the Greens (65%) and Labour (64%) – and lowest among supporters of Reform (55%).
Erik Matthies of the RNIB – which wants a UK-wide ban – said vehicles parked on the pavement are “still the biggest barrier that blind and partially sighted people face when trying to walk alone”.
He said: “Pavement parking forces blind and partially sighted people into the road and potentially into the path of moving vehicles they can’t see. This is stressful and highly dangerous for both pedestrians and drivers and causes wider issues for wheelchair users, guide dog owners and parents with prams.”
Mr Matthies added: “It’s disappointing that the UK Government’s recent proposal only permits English councils to decide for themselves whether or how pavement parking could be restricted. This can only lead to a patchwork of provision, leaving drivers and pedestrians unsure of what to expect, which is a particular issue for blind and partially sighted pedestrians who rely on consistency in their environment to allow them to get around safely.”
Rod Dennis of the RAC said the motoring organisations’ own research found “a clear majority of drivers agree that no pavement user should be made to walk or wheel into the road because of someone else’s inconsiderate parking”.
Pavement parking is already banned in London, and new powers will give English councils the freedom to ban the practice.
Mr Dennis said: “The Government’s outline proposals should clear the way for councils to prevent pavement parking where it causes problems, but permit drivers to partially park on pavements where doing so helps keep traffic flowing and doesn’t inconvenience other people.”
He added it is “vital councils inform drivers that they’ll be starting to enforce unnecessary pavement parking, and are reasonable when doing so”.
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy at The AA, cautioned against blanket bans, saying: “Drivers who park in an antisocial manner that blocks the path of pedestrians and wheelchair users and stops people from using tactile paving should be penalised. However, in the vast majority of cases, drivers are trying to balance safe access for pedestrians as well as allowing traffic to move along the road. [We] would recommend councils considering implementing a ban on pavement parking to carry out a street-by-street assessment. An outright ban could have a knock-on effect of displacing parking problems to new areas, causing new concerns of residents.”
A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said: “Pavement parking can make it harder for people to get around safely – especially disabled people, older people and parents with pushchairs. That’s why we’re giving local leaders the powers to tackle problem pavement parking in their communities, with flexibility for exemptions where needed.”