Pavement parking prohibition powers for England

Living Streets welcomes footway parking provision in English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill

Ahead of tomorrow’s King’s Speech, legislation to enable local leaders to prohibit pavement parking in England has been included in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. 

The amendment included in the bill will enable the Secretary of State for Transport to make regulations giving each English local transport authority the power to impose a prohibition on the parking of motor vehicles on the footways and verges. 

The Bill received Royal Ascent on 29 April.

Under the new English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act, local transport authorities will be given new powers to enforce against dangerous pavement parking including through fixed penalty notices. There will be new licencing powers for rental e-bikes which will allow local authorities to set specific requirements on parking, safety, and accessibility standards.

The move to give English local authorities pavement parking powers has been welcomed by Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking. May is Living Streets’ National Walking Month and the charity is celebrating the long overdue action to make streets more accessible.  

Catherine Woodhead, chief executive of Living Streets, said: “For too long, our streets have been no-go zones for people with wheelchairs, guide dogs and pushchairs. Blocked pavements force people off the safety of the pavement and into oncoming traffic. Our latest research for National Walking Month found that it stops nearly one in ten of us from walking more. This legislation will give people the freedom to enjoy their local streets and reap the many benefits of walking and wheeling.  

“It is vital that the government provides clear guidance to encourage local authorities to use these new powers to prevent a postcode lottery across the nation. Wherever people live, work or visit, they deserve safe and accessible streets.” 

Dr Amit Patel is a disability rights campaigner and Living Streets’ trustee. He comments: “This is a step forward from the UK Government to address pavement parking. Local authorities must make use of these new powers. As a blind person, the frequent menace of pavement parked cars regularly affects the streets I walk on and streets I don't. For me the issue is black and white - the pavement is for people.” 

Supporters have been telling Living Streets what new freedoms this legislation could bring them:

• Johnny, Huddersfield: “I will be able to use my walker at last when visiting my daughter. Before I had to get the bus, as I suffer with extreme arthritis; it’s not helped my daily walking. It’s so scary going on the road to get past these vehicles.” 
• Teresa, East Anglia: “I use an electric wheelchair/scooter and when cars park on the pavement, I can’t get through, so then I’m stuck.”
• Simon, Suffolk: “I have been forced into busy roads on countless occasions with my guide dog. This is clearly an unacceptable position to be in, so I welcome that provisions are being put in law which allows visually impaired people, parents with pushchairs and wheelchair users to use our pavements as designed, and that is to be kept safe at the side of the road and not in it. Of course, this doesn’t only apply to cars but all vehicles, keep our pavements clear, keep us all safe.”