Active Travel 2025-11-20

2025-11-20

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Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Partial Answer
Allison Gardner Lab
Stoke-on-Trent South
Context
Dr Gardner cited constituent concerns about unsafe movement due to vehicles parked on pavements in Stoke-on-Trent South. She also mentioned the Staffordshire Sight Loss Council's concerns regarding dangers for people with vision loss.
My constituents in Stoke-on-Trent South have told me that they cannot move safely around their community because vehicles parked on pavements force pedestrians into the road. Similarly, Staffordshire Sight Loss Council has raised with me the dangers that pavement parking creates for people with vision loss. Of course, that also impacts parents with buggies and wheelchair users. Will the Minister ensure that active travel planning and investment are used to tackle pavement parking and that accessibility is at the forefront, so that no one is excluded from safely moving around their community?
Earlier this year, we announced £300 million of funding for active travel for local authorities, supporting the delivery of high-quality pavements across England to enable more people to walk and 20 million new walk-to-school journeys by children and their parents. My hon. Friend is absolutely right that pavements must be clear and accessible. The Government recognise that pavement parking can endanger pedestrians, especially children, disabled people and parents trying to walk with prams and buggies, which is why I intend to publish our consultation response and announce our next steps on pavement parking policy very shortly.
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Response accuracy