The Government should introduce an outright ban on pavement parking across England, MPs have said in a new report.
The Commons Transport Committee has criticised the Government for failing to take action on pavement parking, warning it leaves people afraid or unable to leave their homes.
As well as legislation to ban pavement parking, the report also calls for reforms to make it cheaper and easier for councils to use Traffic Regulations Orders.
Committee chair Lilian Greenwood, said: ‘In the long term we believe the Government should ban pavement parking across England - as is already the case in London. Local authorities could create exemptions if they choose to do so, but drivers would know that unless it was expressly permitted it was illegal to park their car on the pavement.
‘We recognise that implementing a nationwide ban will take time. In the short term we have said that they Government should make it easier for local authorities to put in place parking restrictions by removing some of the bureaucratic burdens they currently have to contend with.’
The Local Government Association's transport spokesman, Cllr David Renard, said it was pleased that MPs had joined it in recommending an extension to the ban on pavement parking to all areas of England.
He said: 'We urge government to bring forward legislation to ban pavement parking, with councils able to create exemptions if they want to, and steps to facilitate a transition to a new law, at the earliest opportunity.'
A spokesperson for Guide Dogs said: 'Pavement parking puts pedestrians in danger, including disabled people, older people, and parents with children. People with sight loss are particularly at risk as they may have no alternative but to walk in the road with traffic which they cannot see.
'It’s time for the UK Parliament to follow Scotland’s lead with a new law to end pavement parking and keep all pedestrians safe.'
This story first appeared on localgov.co.uk.
