Thoughtless drivers who park on pavements could face action

Council bosses are concerned pavements blocked by parked vehicles can endanger pedestrians, wheelchair users and those with pushchairs, as they are forced to step into the road to get past. Driving on and off the pavement can also cause thousands of pounds worth of damage to kerbstones and pavements.

Today members of Kirklees Council’s cabinet committee will meet to discuss how to tackle the issue of inconsiderate parkers.

A report to be considered by members warns: “Cabinet are requested to note the approach the council intends to adopt for dealing with vehicles which are found to be parking on pavements and to raise awareness of pavement parking and highlight the impact it has on people’s lives.

“It can make vulnerable members of the community unsafe by having to go on to the road to get past vehicles. This will include people with sight impairments, wheelchairs users, people with pushchairs and children.

“The council has a responsibility to keep the roads and footpaths safe to use.

“Illegally parked vehicles cost the council and utility companies thousands of pounds a year in damaged paving, damaged grass verges and service apparatus. Parked vehicles can also obscure visibility and dangerously conceal pedestrians at crossing points,” it adds.

The Government has asked councils to look at introducing powers to tackle pavement parking, however, the report warns this scheme could be costly with hundreds more road signs needed to enforce it adding to pavement clutter which the council says it is already trying to reduce.

Tackling pavement parking where a nuisance is being caused is therefore being proposed rather than a new system requiring signs.

Civil parking enforcement officers will issue penalty charge notices if vehicles park on pavements where there are existing restrictions such as yellow lines, loading areas and dropped crossings.

Warning notices will be issued where the parking causes a nuisance but there are no restrictions and the vehicle details will be recorded in the council’s parking database.

In addition, a programme will be rolled out across wards where particular vehicles causing persistent problems are reported including street names, times and dates.

The council will issue two warnings to offenders before reporting the issue to the police. The police will be able to use the information in the report to tackle problem areas and they are able to issue fixed penalty notices for ‘wilful’ or ‘dangerous’ obstruction.

Residents will be able to continue to report pavement parking abuse as they currently do with callers needing to provide the location and vehicle details.

The report says: “The police have been consulted on this initiative and acknowledge the importance of working closer together to tackle issues of this nature.”

“The aim of the approach is to be balanced and strong enough that it deters people but not equally not too harsh to antagonise people.

“It is anticipated that this approach can be delivered under existing resources and will be reviewed in partnership with colleagues in the police at six monthly intervals,” the report prepared for councillors adds.

Coun David Sheard, deputy leader of the council, who supports the officer’s recommendation and reasoning said: “It is a pity that the requirements that the Government imposed for us to take the powers ourselves impose too much of a burden to make them attractive.

“Historically, people that want to report vehicles parking on the pavement have been passed from the police to the council and also in reverse which has caused confusion to the caller,” he added.

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