PETITIONING families are calling for a ban on pavement parking in Coventry.
But council officers are recommending councillors work within existing measures – adopting two years ago – to tackle the problem.
A petition with dozens of signatures, supported by ward councillor Jim O’Boyle, calls for more enforcement against motorists who park on pavements.
It states pavement parking is “socially inconsiderate and unacceptable nuisance” and “presents a hazard and inconvenience to pedestrians and other legitimate users especially those who are disabled, and require access such as emergency services.
Vehicles leaking oil and diesel on the pavement, creating slip hazards, is also a concern.
The petitioners say pavement parking is not illegal as long as it is not a danger or obstruction, yet point to an apparent inconsistency that driving on the pavement is.
Cabinet member for city services, Labour councillor Jayne Innes, has been advised by council officers to endorse continuing with measures approved at the council in February 2015 – in response to a similar petition.
It means the council would:
* Continue to work with the police to deal with obstructions on the pavement.
* Continue to fund where possible “physical measures to remove parking that obstructs a footway as part of the verge parking programme.”
Council offers also say further measures which might have become law contained in a proposed Pavement Parking Bill did not progress through Parliament.
Councillor officers say the Bill would have tackled inconsistencies throughout England and Wales to make it clearer to all motorists that it is wrong to park on a footway without the specific permission of councils and police.
Options available to the council include introducing waiting restrictions where there are pavement parking issues, through Traffic Regulation Orders.
The law allows for the use of TROs to improve safety or traffic flow, and to preserve amenities of an area.
When making a TRO, the authorities also have to provide for convenient and safe movement for traffic and pedestrians, adequate parking, and public transport provision.
