Should drivers be fined for pavement parking – vote in our poll

Drivers could soon be slapped with heavy chargers for parking on the pavement with Rishi Sunak still interested in a national ban.

Restrictions are already in place across London with offenders issued fines of up to £130 for breaking the rules.

A consultation over more widespread pavement parking laws was held back in 2020 but the Government has yet to issue an official response.

However, campaigners forced officials to break ranks and reveal a fresh update after securing over 12,000 signatures in an online Parliament Petition.

The Department for Transport (DfT) didn’t rule out nationwide restrictions and accepted the proposals were still being looked into.

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They responded: “This highly important issue is complex and involves many conflicting factors. The Government needs to get this right and is carefully considering the issues before deciding the way forward.

“The Minister recognises the importance of this issue to all pedestrians. The Department received over 15,000 detailed responses to the consultation including tens of thousands of open comments. Every single response has been analysed and we have been giving careful consideration to the findings.

“We want to take the right step for communities and ensure that local authorities have appropriate and effective tools at their disposal. We are working through the options and how they can be delivered. Once this is concluded we will publish our formal response to the consultation.

“In the meantime, local authorities have the powers to restrict pavement parking wherever there is a need, by introducing Traffic Regulation Orders.”

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The consultation considered three options with one weighing up London-style restrictions across the whole of England.

Under the scheme, everywhere would be off limits in a bid to keep paths clear for pedestrians.

However, local councils would have the authority to offer exemptions in some areas where pavement parking was still necessary for traffic flow.

Campaigners who opened the petition have warned parking on the pavement “poses a serious threat” to public safety.

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They added: “Cars on pavements can make it difficult for people to get to work, education, or social activities. The constant fear that cars will block their way can also reduce peoples’ confidence to leave their house alone.”

The proposals would offer passes for emergencies but would not give access to Blue Badge holders.

Although the DfT said a change would introduce a “consistent rule” across the country, they reported a series of downsides.

They warned schemes may be “disproportionate” in rural areas and could be costly to implement.

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