The Government has confirmed that local leaders will be given new legal powers to make it easier to restrict pavement parking.
Blocked pavements can create serious barriers for parents with pushchairs, wheelchair users, blind and partially sighted people and older people.
A survey from the Guide Dogs charity last year found that the majority of councillors would back the introduction of enforcement powers against pavement parking.
Local Transport Minister, Lilian Greenwood, said: ‘Clear pavements are essential for people to move around safely and independently, whether that’s a parent with a pushchair, someone using a wheelchair, or a blind or partially sighted person.
‘That’s why we’re giving local authorities the power to crack down on problem pavement parking, allowing more people to travel easily and safely and get to where they need to go.’
Guide Dogs’ chief executive, Andrew Lennox, said: ‘After years of campaigning, we welcome the announcement to give councils greater powers to tackle problem pavement parking.’
Cllr Tom Hunt, chair of the Local Government Association's (LGA) Inclusive Growth Committee, said: 'While these new powers are positive, they must be accompanied with requisite resources to implement and enforce effectively, at a time when council budgets are already stretched.'
