Calls for crackdown on food delivery drivers

Councillor claims up to 20 bikes have been spotted parking on the pavement in the high street

Food delivery motorcyclists are parking illegally on pavements on the High Street in Epsom and the problem is getting worse, county councillors have claimed.

Eber Kington and Steven McCormick from the Residents' Association and Independents group said highways officers are not doing enough to stop it from happening.

Surrey County Council figures show Epsom High Street was patrolled 922 times between 1 January and 30 June, with 159 parking fines issued.

Food app companies said they take their responsibilities seriously and motorcyclists are told to follow the local traffic rules.

Eber Kington, the county councillor for Ewell Court, Auriol & Cuddington, wants the council to find a solution.

He said: “It’s quite dangerous because [the motorcyclists] swing off the road, right at the pedestrian crossing, just drive on to the pavement."

Mr Kington said he has seen up to 20 motorcycles at a time waiting for deliveries.

He added: "The residents have to work their way around them when they’re walking through the high street.”

Food delivery services in town centres like Epsom are becoming increasingly popular

Steven McCormick, the county councillor for Epsom Town & Downs, said a multi-agency approach, including the councils, police and takeaway outlets, is needed.

“We have raised this several times with Surrey enforcement,” he said.

“Unfortunately when they do turn up, all the bikes scatter, so it’s not simple.”

Matt Furniss, cabinet member for highways at Surrey County Council, said the increasing popularity of food delivery services such as Uber and Deliveroo is creating difficulties in many town centres.

He said solutions could include having locations where delivery bikes can wait safely and measures such as planting to “physically prevent” access to pavements.

“Delivery bikes can be a nuisance but also perform a useful function for many residents and businesses,” he said.

“We should aim to manage them on the highway but enforcement is not the entire solution.”

Deliveroo says it takes responsibility seriously

A Deliveroo spokesperson said the company takes its responsibilities in communities very seriously.

They said: “We regularly communicate with riders about respecting the neighbourhoods where they work, as well as respecting the Highway Code and we are reaching out to Surrey County Council to support the identification of opportunities to address these concerns.”

An Uber Spokesperson said: “We are aware of this issue and will be sending a reminder to all couriers in the area that all local parking regulations should be complied with."