Commons Sense

House of Commons · Adjournment Debate

Pavement Parking

07 March 2024 · 1 other contributor

Opened by Liz Twist Lab Blaydon and Consett

TransportEnvironment

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Liz Twist raised concerns about pavement parking in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • Liz Twist, Labour MP for Blaydon and Consett, expressed frustration over the lack of action on pavement parking since her first debate in June 2018.
  • Guide Dogs' research cited by Liz Twist indicates that people with sight loss are forced to walk in the road due to parked vehicles, impacting pedestrians with disabilities significantly.
  • The Minister acknowledged the issue and outlined measures under consideration, including reforming the Traffic Regulation Order process and allowing local authorities to enforce against unnecessary obstruction of pavements.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Liz Twist Lab Blaydon and Consett

Liz Twist, the Labour MP for Blaydon and Consett, expressed her frustration at the ongoing issue of pavement parking. She noted that since her first debate on this topic in June 2018, there have been promises but no concrete action from the Government. Liz highlighted the impact of pavement parking on pedestrians, particularly those with disabilities, citing Guide Dogs' research which found that virtually all people with sight loss are forced to walk in the road due to parked vehicles. She shared a personal story about her constituents Margaret and Laurel, visually impaired individuals who struggle daily with blocked pavements, leading to fear and social isolation. Liz called for urgent action from the Government, including publishing the consultation response and introducing legislation.

Other contributors (1)
  • Guy Opperman Con Hexham

    The MP acknowledged the importance of the issue raised by Liz Twist and recognised that successive governments have not implemented a nationwide ban on pavement parking. He emphasised the need to consider different environments across the country, especially in rural areas.

Government Response

Guy Opperman

The Minister acknowledged the seriousness of the issue and recognised the significant number of responses received during the consultation. He outlined several measures currently under consideration: reforming the Traffic Regulation Order process to make it quicker and cheaper, allowing local authorities to enforce against unnecessary obstruction of pavements through civil enforcement officers, and considering a nationwide prohibition on pavement parking with exemptions for rural areas where necessary. The Minister highlighted the importance of personal responsibility in addressing this issue.

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