Campaign to clamp down on parking on pavements

Research has found 41% of motorists backed a crackdown on people parking on pavements

A disability campaigner in Kent is calling for a council to be given tougher powers to prevent people parking on pavements.

It comes as new RAC research found 41% of motorists backed a crackdown, while 42% called for an outright ban across England.

Activist and power chair user Sue Groves, from Medway, said pavement parking often left people like her "feeling vulnerable".

The Department for Transport (DfT) said: "Our priority is to make it as easy and as accessible as possible for everyone to get around, and we recognise the problems pavement parking can cause for people across the country."

Pavement parking is illegal in London, but the Highway Code merely advises against the practice across the rest of the country.

Speaking ahead of a Parliamentary debate on the issue on Wednesday, Ms Groves said she was sometimes forced to use the road and face oncoming traffic.

"In some streets it's not practical for cars to park on road because it leaves insufficient room for other vehicles to get through, especially bin lorries or ambulances," she said.

"But there really should be some sort of guidelines as to what constitutes an obstruction," she said, suggesting using the width of a double baby buggy as an indicator of how much space should be left.

'Serious problem'

Rod Dennis, RAC senior policy officer, called it "a serious problem that needs tackling".

"No pavement user should be forced into walking or wheeling into the road because of someone parking inconsiderately," he said.

"And a clear majority of drivers agree, but when it comes to the solution, the jury is out."

Parking problems are dealt with by local borough or district councils.

A Kent County Council spokesperson said: "Nuisance parking, such as on pavements or verges where there are no existing yellow line restrictions, along with parking over an access or causing an obstruction, can be dealt with by the police.

"They are able to issue a fixed penalty fine or, where they consider it necessary, may even move the vehicle."

The government said in July it would announce "the next steps" in relation to the problem "as soon as possible".

A DfT spokesperson added: "The government continues to review the issue of pavement parking nationwide and will update in due course."