Scottish Government is keen to address pavement parking issues

Legislation to make it an offence to park on pavements in Scotland will continue to be pursued by the Scottish Government. Scottish ministers are seeking to legislate to prevent parked vehicles from causing problems for guide dog owners, wheelchair users and parents with pushchairs.

Under the current law, only driving on the pavement is prohibited unless councils have passed specific traffic regulations to ban parking as well.

Scottish transport minister Derek MacKay said it is an issue that should be addressed by the next government if not resolved this term. MacKay said any incoming government should champion this issue, after next year's Scottish Parliament elections if the current administration was not able to resolve it before then.

Some powers over parking on pavements are reserved, meaning an amendment to the 1998 Scotland Act could be needed to allow Holyrood to legislate.

The dispute over whether or not the Scottish Government has the authority to change the law is the subject of inter-government talks with Westminster.

Two previous attempts to legislate on the pavement parking issue showed broad support for a ban in Scotland. The most recent was a Bill put forward in May this year by SNP MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Sandra White. Her Footway Parking and Double Parking (Scotland) Bill would have stopped vehicles blocking pavements and walkways, with dropped kerb and double-parking being a particular issue for people with mobility problems.

Action against pavement parking has also been examined in England and Wales, where the government has proposed a round table discussion to resolve the issue.