Outright ban will only create more problems

AS owners of a mobility scooter and, in the past, needing to push an elderly relative in a wheelchair, we fully understand the concerns expressed in the article “Calls to ban all pavement parking in UK” (February 10).

However, I believe that to ban pavement parking, desirable as it is, will be simply solving problems whist creating new ones!

Also, I once came across an unattended contractor’s van backed on to a drive completely blocking the pavement forcing me, a partially sighted person, into the road.

Having got round said vehicle there was an elderly lady on a mobility scooter unable to pass and understandably, reluctant to go into the road which was impractical anyway because the nearby dropped kerb had potholes along its edge into which her wheels would get trapped! Fortunately, I was able to find the driver.

Where streets are wide enough, a ban could work but in many Victorian era streets of terraced houses with no off-road space, it will not work as forcing parking off pavements will simply block the street for access by other residents, delivery vehicles, taxis, dust carts, and, importantly, fire engines and ambulances.

The article refers to a Department of Transport (DfT) consultation of 2020 on this problem. The DfT has not reported on its findings, no doubt due to there being no easy answers short of banning cars altogether.

Other problems for “wheelers” include wheelie bins left at all angles on pavements, sometimes for days, and hedge encroachment reducing available width are simply lack of consideration for others.

The best I can suggest is:

■ Educate drivers to take more account of Highway Code Rule 244 and the minimum space required to pass ‘wheelers’.

■ Investigate possible tailor-made local solutions to the many and varied locations.

■ Prohibit the parking of any vehicle wider than a private car except for legitimate reasons, in problem spots.

■ Ensure pavement surfaces are of good quality for ‘wheeling’. Some are simply appalling for the riders.

■ Ensure that dropped kerb to road surface interfaces are smooth, puddle-free and without steps or potholes to hinder and/or trap small wheels.

■ Ensure that dropped kerbs at obtuse junctions are put where a user can see what is speeding towards them round the corner. For example, at the Windmill Hill Lane to Ashbourne Road junction where Markeaton Island bound ‘wheelers’ are completely blind to approaching speeding traffic turning into Windmill Hill Lane.

David Gossling