New warnings on 'thoughtless' and 'dangerous' pavement parking planned by Dudley Council
Dudley Council is set to send out warnings on the dangers of pavement parking ahead of a new consultation.
The authority approved a Notice of Motion at a meeting in December 2024 with a number of measures aimed at highlighting the problem of drivers obstructing footpaths.
Approval of the Liberal Democrat motion meant the council will launch an awareness campaign, take action against dodgy parking in hotspot areas and write to the Secretary of State for Transport on the issue.
Lib Dem councillor Andrew Tromans said: “I am pleased to see enforcement agencies crack down on problematic pavement parking after Liberal Democrat motion was passed last year.
“Sometimes, parking on the pavement is unavoidable but there are very many instances where it is done in a way that is thoughtless.
“Parking with all four wheels on the pavement or close to a junction can be dangerous and I see this all too often both in my ward and across the borough.”
Pavement parking is widely permitted in England apart from in London, where it has been banned since 1974.
The government’s transport committee held an enquiry on pavement parking in 2019 and a consultation was carried out the following year.
The-then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Transport, Baroness Vere of Norbiton, said: “I know that pavement parking can cause real problems for pedestrians, but particularly for wheelchair users, people with visual impairments and those with prams or buggies.
“However, it is also important to recognise that in many narrow streets pavement parking is necessary to maintain free-flowing traffic, including for emergency services.”
In reply to a letter from Dudley Council asking when the government will publish a response to the 2020 consultation, Lillian Greenwood MP, Minister for the Future of Roads, said: “The department intends to publish a formal response to the consultation, summarising the views received and announcing the government’s next steps for pavement parking policy as soon as possible.
“I can assure you that I am taking the matter seriously and giving the appropriate amount of consideration that is needed for such a complex matter.”
Once the government publishes a response Dudley Council plans to consult all elected members on pavement parking policy.
Meanwhile, the council intends to launch a publicity campaign highlighting the risks and inconvenience of nuisance parking.
