What consideration has the Cabinet Minister given to introducing a national prohibition on pavement parking, bringing Wales into line with the approach now being taken in Scotland and England?
This Government is committed to enabling and encouraging more people to make everyday journeys on foot. Pavement parking undermines that aim and can create barriers for pedestrians, particularly disabled people, older people, and those with pushchairs. We are seeking to change driver behaviour by raising awareness that pavements are for pedestrians, not vehicles, supported by the deterrent of effective enforcement.
Currently the responsibility for ensuring that motorists do not park on pavements is a complex issue, shared between local authorities and the police. They can address on-street and pavement parking through various measures, such as enforcing legislation on obstruction and dangerous parking, designating limited ‘no pavement parking’ areas through Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) or by establishing a special parking area.
Officials have been in discussions with Transport Scotland and the Department for Transport and are considering how best to provide local authorities across Wales with further powers to tackle pavement parking.