Councillor welcomes move on pavement parking
ACOUNCILLOR for Birkdale and the town centre has welcomed proposals which could result in a blanket ban on pavement parking.
The Government is holding a consultation on the issue, which often causes problems for wheelchair users and parents with pushchairs and young children who are forced into busy roads.
Under the current system, only police can issue fixed penalty notices for pavement parking in areas where there are no other restrictions but one solution could be to give greater powers to local councils to hand out their own fines.
Another suggestion would make it easier for councils to implement localised bans, while a third option would be a blanket, nationwide ban on parking on pavements. However, the latter option would lead to significant problems on narrow roads, particularly those in rural areas.
Dukes Ward councillor Sir Ron Watson welcomed the proposals and said that the issue was a big problem across the area he represents. Sir Ron said he observed 17 cars partially parked on the pavement on one Birkdale street in one week.
He is now encouraging people across Southport to share their opinions with the Government’s consultation.
Sir Ron said: “I appreciate that as with everything it is not simple but put in basic terms pavement parking causes inconvenience to pedestrians and can provide particular difficulties for people who are blind or who have visual impairment together with those who require motorised disability buggies.
“There is however another problem in the sense that if cars park fully on the road – which is something everyone would prefer – we have some areas where this in itself would be highly dangerous because emergency vehicles such as ambulances and fire engines could simply not get through to the person in need.
“I hope that everyone will take the opportunity to engage in the consultation process in the hope that what has been a long standing problem can be resolved in the near future.”