Pavement parking can be isolating, campaigner says

3 hours ago

Hannah Roeand

Patrick Barlow,South East

News image — Steve Saunders, of East Sussex Vision Support, says pavement parking can be isolating for visually impaired people

Steve Saunders A man, Steve Saunders, stood by a road with a guide dog. — Steve Saunders, of East Sussex Vision Support, says pavement parking can be isolating for visually impaired people

Motorists parking on pavements can cause a "complete restriction to life and safety" for visually impaired people, a campaigner has warned.

Steve Saunders, of East Sussex Vision Support, says issues with cars blocking pavements when parking on verges can be an issue for a range of people including mothers with pushchairs and wheelchair users, as well as people who are blind or partially sighted.

It comes as new data shows that half of English councils, including East Sussex County Council (ESCC), actively encourage parking on pavements through marked bays or signage.

An ESCC spokesperson says the authority "understands the importance of this issue and the impact it can have on residents".

Saunders, who himself is visually impaired and uses a guide dog, said: "Many drivers leave what they think is enough space for a person to get through on the inside but they don't think of wing mirrors sticking out or overgrown hedges or trees.

"Parking on the pavement may only be seen by the driver as an inconvenience for a few minutes but it's seen by the person who can't get through the gap that has been left as a complete restriction to their life and safety."

A car with its wheels on the pavement of a road. — Pavement parking can affect more than just visually impaired people, Saunders said

Saunders said: "Any barrier to a person's mobility will have an impact.

"If it keeps happening a person may decide not to go out and this can lead to isolation and a loss of confidence."

A spokesperson for the Local Government Association said pavement parking was one of the most complained about issues that councils are contacted about, but they "have to balance the needs of all users".

East Sussex County Council says currently there is "no national legislation which bans parking on the pavement or verge".

It added that it would "review the information as soon as it is available" after it was announced earlier this year that changes would be made to pavement parking legislation.

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