By James Rodger

Copyright birminghammail

Labour could launch a UK-wide pavement parking ban amid growing pressure to protect vulnerable people. The Labour Party government is under pressure to support a national pavement parking ban. Support among MPs is growing, with politicians from across the political spectrum urging Labour to act. They are concerned pavement parking is impacting disabled people, including wheelchair users, visually impaired pedestrians and parents with pushchairs. Helen McGuire, MP for Epsom and Ewell, warned in Parliament during a debate this week: “Every day, people are forced into the road into moving traffic because the pavement is blocked by a vehicle.” She warned these situations represent “moments of danger, frustration and exclusion”. READ MORE UK households with white walls warned as epidemic starts to sweep England Responding, Lilian Greenwood, the Transport Secretary, said: “As Members will be aware, after five years of inaction despite promises to the contrary, in 2020 the previous Administration finally held a public consultation on managing pavement parking. The responses to that consultation were robust, thoughtful and deeply informative. “They provided clear evidence that pavement parking is a problem that affects people’s daily lives, their safety and their ability to participate fully in society. I am grateful to everyone who took the time to respond. I am acutely aware of the frustration caused by the lack of a formal response to that consultation. It is a frustration that I share, and, frankly, it seems that the previous Government were not focusing on the issue, so we have had to pick the work up from scratch. I want to reassure Members that I am straining every sinew to publish the response as soon as possible.” Ms Greenwood went on, adding: “In the five years since the previous Government held the consultation, a lot has changed in the political landscape of the UK. Much more of England is covered by mayoral combined authorities and, because this Government believe in true devolution, we are moving to strategic authorities across England. “Those changes have to be factored into our thinking on pavement parking. More broadly, we have carefully considered the potential impacts of pavement parking to ensure that our approach aligns with the Government’s wider missions, which are focused on growth, health, safer streets and breaking down barriers to opportunity. “Tackling pavement parking can contribute to safer streets by reducing risks for pedestrians who would be forced into the road. “It can enable more people to walk—the perfect antidote to inactivity. By ensuring that disabled people and families can move freely and safely, it can break down barriers to opportunity, which, alongside high levels of active travel, can potentially drive growth benefits. “Our work is helping us shape a policy that is not only effective but equitable. As a result of all that work, I expect to make an announcement very soon.”