Weak Government Response to Pavement Parking Consultation

The UK government has finally responded to the pavement parking consultation that took place in 2020.

There are lots of warm words about the benefits of clear pavements for people with buggies or disabilities, but the bottom line is that the government has chosen to pass the buck to local government.

The press release says:

‘Local leaders know their streets best and are best placed to respond to local needs. Under the new approach, local leaders will be able to decide to take action on pavement parking in their area, and they will retain flexibility where they deem pavement parking may still be acceptable.’

In truth, many local authorities are already overwhelmed, and will choose the course of action that requires least action.

The risk of leaving it to local authorities is that clear pavements become a postcode lottery. You’re entitled to walk or wheel without obstructions if you live in, say, Leeds, but not in North Yorkshire.

The government says it will publish guidance for councils later in 2026.

The full government response to the consultation says that there were over 15,000 consultation submissions.

Pavement parking is a problem according to:

• 81% of individuals responding and
• 96% of organisations that responded

A national ban on pavement parking with local exemptions was the preferred option of 71% of individuals and 54% of organisations.

Only 31% of local authorities supported a ban; more preferred the power to enforce against ‘unnecessary obstruction’ of the pavement (56%).

The government has decided against a national ban (even though it is already illegal to drive on the footway).

Instead it will create powers to enable local transport authorities to prohibit pavement parking, through primary legislation. In York & North Yorkshire, this is the Combined Authority.

The framework will be ‘national in scope and local in implementation’. In other words, the national government does not want to invest any political capital in this issue.

In parallel, the government will use secondary legislation to enable councils with civil enforcement powers to enforce against ‘unnecessary obstruction of the pavement’.