Only one individual responded to the new section HAVE YOUR SAY in January’s Newsletter. The topic raised was parking on pavements and verges and the individual wondered if anyone else was concerned about pavement parking which seems to be common in their area. They said:-
“It is a mystery to me why many homeowners park cars fully on the pavement and verges. Access is often restricted to pedestrians with sight and mobility issues. The result of parking across the pavements and using them as a drive extension is damaged pavements, disappearing verges, damaged trees – huge council bills to repair pavements only for homeowners to drive across the pavement again.”
Do you agree and more importantly what is a practical solution?
S says
This is very common in our area and our Road in Pyrford suffers from pavement parking on a daily basis blocking pedestrian rights of way and also inconsiderate parking blocking neighbours driveways.
A says
Perhaps the rules on parking on verges or pavement are unclear or misunderstood? What is the official line and are the rules enforced?
It’s an issue seen across the country but councils appear to ignore it universally so perhaps there are no defined rules?
There’s a nice green space as you approach the border of West Byfleet that cars often park on and although off the road it’s blatant parking in an amenity space and looks awful. Bizarrely, it’s quite a wide road with no parking restrictions so the vehicles can easily be left in the road but they choose the grassed area instead.
Andrew Grimshaw says
Hi,
i will try to answer your questions.
At the moment, it is only in London where you MUST not park on the pavement.
It is though illegal to drive on a pavement.
Rules surrounding pavement parking could change in England as the system is currently under review by the Department of Transport following a consultation into people’s views on the issue.
The consultation closed in November 2020, but sought views on three options:-
1. Improving the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process, under which local authorities can already prohibit pavement parking.
2. A legislative change to allow local authorities with civil parking enforcement powers to enforce against ‘unnecessary obstruction of the pavement.
3. A legislative change to introduce a London-style pavement parking prohibition throughout England.
However, no decision or analysis of the results of the consultation has yet been released. It is rumoured that the department is ‘actively considering’ a ban in England.
A RAC article at
https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/legal/parking-on-the-pavement/
provides more detail, but in the Highway Code, rule 242 states “You MUST NOT leave your vehicle or trailer in a dangerous position or where it causes any unnecessary obstruction of the road.”
As this is a must not, if your car is reported or seen by a police officer and judged to be either in a dangerous position or causing an unnecessary obstruction of the road, you could receive a Fixed Penalty Notice.
I hope that helps to answer the current position.
John Clark says
The pavements in our road are separated from the road by soft grass verges.
The problem we have is people parking on the soft grass verges, either fully or partly, even when there is room on their drive or on the road nearby. I believe that while it is not illegal to park on a verge – it is to damage one! It follows that the more often they are parked upon the more damage will be done!
Of even more concern is that utility pipes for water & gas are run under the verges and could be damaged by compression of the soil above.
We fully support restrictions on pavement parking and a total ban on parking wholly or partly on soft grass verges
Andy Grimshaw says
On Southwark Borough Council website it says:-
Grass verges and other areas
You must not park on any part of the public highway, including:
grass verges
central reservations
ramps linking private property to the road
pedestrian crossings
It looks like grass verges are classified as part of the highway
Robert Arthur Shatwell says
Andy,
The definition of a highway includes roads, grass verges and footpaths. Under The Highways Act it is an offence to drive other than on a road therefore to park on grass verges requires you to drive on the grass verge, (a place other than on a road). It is also an offence to park on the driveway to a house, this could also be classed as being an unlawful obstruction of the free passage of the highway. It is also an offence to park on a footpath because it requires you to drive other than on a road, again it could also be classed as an unlawful obstruction.
Accordingly it is an offence to drive any mechanically propelled vehicle, which includes an electric scooter which is described as being a 2 wheeled mechanically assisted vehicle, i.e. a motor bike and should therefore require road tax, insurance and the wearing of a helmet.
Sadly there are no police about so people are committing offences all the time.
Bob
James Brownfield says
Hi All,
I also have issues with pavement parking I saw this article and wondered if our local area could do this. Can our local representatives push for action?
https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/cars/1662157/driver-warning-parking-police-crackdown-pavement-parking/amp
Many Thanks,
Mr Brownfield