City bosses want powers to stop pavement parking in Nottingham as part of a wider push to make pavements safer and more accessible.
The Government has already set out plans to give councils stronger enforcement powers against drivers who unnecessarily obstruct pavements with their vehicles.
In future, national leaders also want to devolve responsibility for pavement parking enforcement to regional mayors, including East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward, through the East Midlands Combined County Authority.
That could eventually allow regional leaders to decide whether pavement parking should be banned altogether in areas such as Nottingham.
Councillor Linda Woodings, Nottingham City Council’s executive member for transport, told a meeting of the authority’s transport committee in April that the city wants the ability to stop pavement parking completely.
She said: “We have an ambition to have disability friendly pavements in Nottingham. I know it’s controversial, but we would like the ability, and we’re going to try and get the powers, to stop pavement parking.
“We know that one day we will all have to use wheels or walkers or something like that and we don’t want to be going into the road to be able to use that. I know eventually the powers will come to the mayor’s office as to whether they actually develop that legislation or not.
“But disability friendly pavements are what we’re all about as far as the city’s concerned. People can move to the city because they’ve lost their mobility or they’ve lost their driver’s licence. They’ll move into the city for that reason.”
Pavement parking is currently banned in London and Scotland, but elsewhere in England it can usually only be enforced where a specific traffic regulation order is in place, on certain roads, or where other restrictions such as double yellow lines apply.
The Government published the results of a consultation on the issue earlier this year, after seeking views from the public and organisations. It found 81 per cent of respondents and 96 per cent of organisations said pavement parking was a problem in their area.
Wheelchair users in Nottingham have described being forced into the road or blocked from using pavements because vehicles have been left too close to walls, railings or other street furniture.
Charlotte Throssel, founder and chief executive of disability charity Disability Support, uses an electric wheelchair and said she has been injured in the past while trying to get around a badly parked car.
She said: “Quite a few years ago, due to somebody being parked on the pavement, I had to take a slightly different route. But I misjudged it and came out of my wheelchair and broke my wrist.
“So, I’m very much, personally, in favour of a ban altogether, somewhere. I have struggled with this issue for years. However, if the start is to be doing fines and ways to deter people, then it’s a starting point.
“It’s an issue for so, so many, and not just disabled people, but people that have got small children and pushchairs. If you’re taking up a huge amount of the pavement, it could be dangerous in some areas where you’re forcing people onto the road to get round. It’s not good.”
Nottingham resident James Ellis, who also uses a wheelchair, said pavement parking can be worse outside the city centre.
He said: “In the city, your Mapperleys and places like that are fine. But when you get to Hucknalls and Cliftons, I think it’s a bit harder. They probably don’t see wheelchairs as much.”
Mr Ellis said pavement parking affects him “greatly, to the point of rage”.
He added: “I’d say ban it totally. You can fine people – but that doesn’t mean they’re not going to do it.”
Disability campaigner and sportsperson Jon Khairule, who also uses a wheelchair, said he was concerned about how any complete ban would be enforced.
He said pavement parking had led to him and his support staff receiving abuse after asking drivers to move their vehicles.
He said: “I often become stuck because cars block the pavements. Sometimes I have to go on very busy roads because I cannot get past the cars in front of me.
“My support staff and I also receive abuse when requesting people to move their cars. People believe that they have the right to park there, and I should find another way to my destination.”
The Government has said it will look to legislate on a permanent parking solution for mayors and councils “at the next available opportunity”. It has also commissioned further research to gather more evidence on why new enforcement rules are needed.
In the meantime, ministers say councils will be given powers to enforce against “the most egregious examples of obstructive pavement parking” under the English Devolution Bill, which received Royal Assent on Wednesday, April 29.
