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Pavement parking could be banned in England
 
Parking on pavements could be banned in England to help pedestrians, the Department for Transport has said.

With the exception of London - where a ban already exists - only lorries are currently prevented from pavement parking.

The government is to open a consultation on whether to give local authorities more parking powers.

The AA, however, has warned a ban could have "unintended consequences" and cause more widespread "parking chaos".

The consultation comes after a committee of MPs last year called for a nationwide ban on the "blight" of parking on pavements.

Witnesses told the Commons' transport committee that the worst cases of pavement parking were effectively trapping disabled, elderly and vulnerable people, making them "afraid to leave their homes".

The cross-party group said blocked-off walkways were also exacerbating the issue of loneliness in Britain.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "Vehicles parked on the pavement can cause very real difficulties for many pedestrians."

He said the consultation would look at a variety of options, including giving local authorities extended powers to crack down on this behaviour.

Conservative MP Huw Merriman, who chairs the transport committee, welcomed the consultation, noting that the government had promised in 2015 to look into the issue but consultations and reviews had failed to improve roadside conditions.

"This government has signalled an intent to finally deliver change," he said, adding that detailed timings were needed.

The 12-week consultation will include options such as allowing local authorities with civil parking enforcement powers to crack down on unnecessary obstruction of the pavement. Currently, outside London, only police have this power.

It will also consider how a nationwide ban on pavement parking enforced by local authorities might work, allowing for any necessary exceptions or designated spots for pavement parking where needed, and how a tailored approach may be required in rural and suburban areas which face very different challenges.

The AA, however, has warned a ban could have "unintended consequences" and cause more widespread "parking chaos".

If, without lawful authority or excuse... a person deposits any thing whatsoever on a highway to the interruption of any user of the highway... he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding £50.

As amended the maximum penalty under the Highways Act 1980 is no longer '£50' but 'level 3 on the standard scale' which at present is £1,000.

Who's going to enforce it, and how?

A formal ban could cause problems for residents in some narrow residential streets...

You're going to be consulted on that.

I wonder how this would work in places where pavement parking is encouraged?
In parts of Oxford there are parking signs and markings that make it clear that you should park on pavements.

They could publicise "no change" by announcing something along the lines of "pavement parking regulations will be enforced from dmy date". Not saying they will, but it would be possible.

You can be consulted as much as you like, but parking has generally been decriminalised in many parts of the country and local authorities have been left to do the enforcement. So unless something changes, the police won't be involved ad it will be down to Traffic Wardens (or whatever they are calling them these days) to do it. And certainy in Wiltshire one only sees the occasional "blitz" on parking infrigements.

So on that basis "offenders" could get away with it for weeks at a time.

Who's going to enforce it, and how?

Perhaps enforcement could be subcontracted to Northern Rail, they have a proven track record of enforcement and imposing penalties. They are better at this than running trains.

Isn't that 'were'?

Bit too early to say how good the new management (DfT's OLR) are at running trains or enforcing parking regulations.

Who's going to enforce it, and how?

I stand corrected, perhaps a new company could be started by ex Northern Rail managers who otherwise would be "spending more time with their families" a suitable name cold be devised, how about "northern enforcement"

About time. And I will be seriously disappointed if organisations such as the RAC (and I have no doubt there are others), whose spokesperson told Talk Radio this morning that pavement parking of two wheels of a vehicle should continue to be permitted, get their way...