News & Features
Local Authorities Given Greater Powers to Tackle Pavement Parking in Problem Areas
Posted in News on Friday, January 9th, 2026
Disabled people across England will benefit from new powers being given to local authorities so they can deal with pavement parking more effectively. These changes have been confirmed by the Department for Transport. The aim is to make sure pavements are clear and can be used by everyone without barriers blocking their way. At the same time councils will have the ability to allow exemptions where it makes sense to do so. This is an important caveat. We appreciate that some disabled motorists have no choice but to park on the pavement if they want to have safe access to their homes.
However, too often cars parked on pavements create serious obstacles that make everyday travel much more difficult for many people. Wheelchair and scooter users often have to go onto the road to get around parked cars, the same applies to parents with pushchairs and blind people. For these individuals pavement parking is not just a slight hindrance, it is a real danger.
What the New Powers Mean in Practice
Following public consultation, the government has confirmed that councils will now have greater powers to enforce restrictions on pavement parking across local areas. The previous way of dealing with pavement parking often required action on each individual street, which could be slow and complicated. This made it hard for councils to act swiftly.
Under the new system, councils will be able to identify where pavement parking causes problems and choose appropriate ways to deal with it. They will still have the ability to allow parking on pavements in places where it is not problematic. This tailored approach to decision making means that solutions can reflect the everyday reality of how streets are used.
Guide Dogs Chief Executive, Andrew Lennox welcomed the announcement and said that cars blocking pavements are a real danger for people with sight loss. Without clear paths, people can be forced into traffic they cannot see, which undermines their confidence and limits participation in daily life, work and community activities. He also emphasised the need for speedy introduction and consistent enforcement so that parking on pavements becomes something of the past.”
Disabled Motoring UK’s CEO, Graham Footer commented: “We welcome these new powers given to local authorities as it shows that the DfT recognises how important clear pavements are for road safety and the independence of all road users. That said, we know that a blanket ban on pavement parking is not the solution. We agree that exemptions will be needed in certain areas. With this in mind, we encourage people to park with as much consideration as possible and ensure that dropped kerbs and walkways can be accessed by those who need them most.”
The Department for Transport has said it will publish guidance for councils on how to use these powers in ways that are fair and effective later this year. These measures form part of the government’s broader plan to make transport more inclusive and to support growth by ensuring public spaces work well for all people.
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David Kellard
Saturday, January, 17th, 2026
Rather than ban parking on pavements, could not a minimum distance be required, for instance 1yard (100cm) between the vehicle and boundary, thereby suiting both
Cojic
Tuesday, January, 20th, 2026
I agree with the principle behind these changes. Pavements must be usable and safe for everyone, particularly wheelchair users, blind people, and parents with pushchairs. Nobody should be forced into the road because a pavement is blocked. What’s happening locally, though, shows a clear gap between policy intent and practical delivery. In many areas the rules are being enforced without adequate exemptions or redesign. Streets that are already narrow are effectively reduced to half a carriageway width in the evenings. The result is that buses, fire appliances, ambulances, and delivery lorries can’t get through. That creates obvious risks for emergency response and essential services. This problem is being compounded by planning decisions. New housing developments are increasingly approved with little or no off-street parking and without driveways. Residents still own cars, yet there’s nowhere lawful or realistic for them to park. On some newer estates, enforcement of pavement parking bans removes the only available parking while still failing to deliver clear, straight pavements. If on-street parking, with no pavement parking at all, is now the requirement, then street design has to change to match it. Roads need to be wide enough to accommodate parking on both sides as well as a full-width carriageway that allows vehicles, including emergency vehicles, to pass safely. That simply isn’t the case on many existing streets or newer developments. We’re often told this is about speed calming, but narrowing roads to single-vehicle width doesn’t just slow traffic, it creates daily congestion and access problems. The policy aim is sound, but without joined-up planning, realistic parking provision, and proper exemptions, the outcome risks creating new safety problems while still failing to deliver genuinely accessible pavements