Parking on pavements
Inconsiderate parking on, or partially on,
pavements causes real problems for the blind, the disabled and
people with wheelchairs or pushchairs. Furthermore, vehicles parked
in this way cost us thousands of pounds every year due to the
damage caused to footway surfaces and grass verges. We have an
obligation to keep footways and verges safe for pedestrians and
so this unnecessary damage places an extra burden on the
maintenance budgets.
Pavement parking often results in insufficient
room for pedestrians, especially those with wheelchairs or
pushchairs. People have no option but to step into the road to walk
past the obstructing vehicle. Obviously, this places them in
danger. Furthermore, when a vehicle moves off the pavement it can
leave behind damaged surfaces such as broken flags, which are
also a danger to pedestrians.
If there are yellow lines on the edge of the
road next to the pavement then enforcement action can be taken.
This is because the restrictions apply to the whole of the
highway – from the centre of the road to the back of the pavement.
Alternatively the police can take action if the pavement is
obstructed and pedestrians cannot get past without walking in the
road. This applies whether there are yellow lines or
not.