New powers to tackle poor parking and blocked pavements in Peterborough welcomed

New changes. announced by the government last week, will give councils the power to introduce better pavement parking restrictions and enforce against unnecessary obstruction, rather than relying on slow, ‘street by street’ legal orders.

The aim is to keep pavements clear for those who rely on them most – particularly disabled people, older residents, parents with pushchairs, and blind or partially sighted people who are too often forced into the road by inconsiderately parked vehicles.​

At present, action depends either on the police tackling obstruction or on the council putting in place Traffic Regulation Orders backed by signs and lines; a process that can be lengthy and tends to be limited to specific streets such as parts of Dogsthorpe.

The new national approach is intended to make it simpler for the council to respond where serious concerns are raised, with the ability to act over wider areas and to enforce more consistently.​

Mr Pakes said: “Too many people in Peterborough tell me they are forced into the road because cars are blocking the pavement – whether that’s outside schools, on narrow terraced streets or around our local centres.

“No one using a wheelchair, pushing a pram or living with sight loss should have to choose between turning back or stepping into traffic just to get to the shops or the bus stop. These new powers are a chance for Peterborough to lead the way on safer, more accessible streets.

“I will be pushing for these new rules to be introduced in Parliament quickly and working with residents to ensure they benefit us locally. This should be able helping us to target the worst hotspots, enforce fairly and keep our pavements clear so everyone can get around our city safely and with dignity.”​

Councillor Angus Ellis Cabinet member for Waste, Environment and Transport, added: “This is a huge step forward where our Labour Government is empowering Local Authorities to be given more control to put their communities at the heart of decisions.

“As a local authority, we welcome these new powers which will help us tackle pavement parking more effectively. Keeping pavements clear is vital for the safety and independence of all residents, especially those with disabilities, parents with pushchairs, and older people. These changes will allow us to respond faster to community concerns and create safer, more accessible streets across Peterborough."

Residents have been encouraged to share their experiences of problematic pavement parking ahead of detailed guidance on how the new powers should be used coming later this year.

To do so, visit www.andrewpakes.org.uk/pavementparking.