Plans unveiled to stop Melton motorists parking on pavements

Powers could be given to the council and other local authorities throughout the country in a bid to prevent vulnerable pedestrians, such as people with wheelchairs, buggies and those living with sight loss, having to go onto roads to navigate past parked vehicles.

Melton mobility scooter user Roger Bawden contacted the Melton Times to tell us the problems he often faces in the town.

He said: “Vehicles are often parked across pavements in such a manner as to severely restrict or completely block the footpath.

“This can happen anywhere in the town but is more frequent on residential roads.

“I have had to divert into the road including the busy arteries, such as the A606 and A607, including after dark, to continue my journey.”

He added: “We also have ‘A’ boards outside of shops which are clear obstructions and a hazard to the partially sighted.

“There are numerous examples throughout the town centre.

“Temporary road signs, like diversion signs, road closures and direction signs for events such as the food festivals, are placed inconsiderately by county council contractors.”

Other obstructions for vulnerable pedestrians, Mr Bawden said, included permanent street furniture like lamp posts, traffic signals and direction signs.

And he pointed out that narrow footpaths on Mill Street and sections of Burton Road were a problem for people with mobility scooters.

Mr Bawden added: “Regrettably the highway code does not currently prohibit vehicles parking on pavements, unless there are yellow kerb markings, other than in London.

“I have contacted my local councillor, Melton Borough Council and Leicestershire County Council regarding obstructions on footpaths.”

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced the plans to crackdown on pavement parkers this week and said a 12-week consultation would be held this summer to consider how a nationwide ban on pavement parking could be enforced by local authorities.

The proposals form part of the government’s response to the Transport Select Committee’s report into pavement parking, which was founded on input from over 4,000 supporters of Living Streets, which is part of the Walking and Cycling Alliance (WACA) with Bicycle Association, British Cycling, Cycling UK, Ramblers and Sustrans.

Stephen Edwards, director of policy and communications at Living Streets, said: “Pavement parking forces people with wheelchairs, buggies and those living with sight loss into the road and into oncoming traffic.

“The most vulnerable pedestrians continue to be put at risk of injury and isolation every day that this dangerous act continues.

“We’re regularly contacted at Living Streets by disabled and older people who feel trapped in their homes because there isn’t enough room on the pavement for wheelchairs or mobility scooters.

“Clear pavements need clear laws, but currently regional differences cause confusion.

“We need a nationwide default ban, with the option to allow pavement parking in certain circumstances, as is currently available in London.

“This would be much easier for everyone to understand.”

A quarter of over 65s are prevented from leaving their home because of obstructed pavements, the organisation says, equating to nearly three million people.

One in 10 parents are put off walking their child to school because of cars parking on the pavements.

Only five per cent of drivers are aware of all aspects of the current law on pavement parking, which differs between London and the rest of Great Britain.

Is there a problem where you live in the Melton borough with pavement parking? Email [email protected] with brief details.