Issue - meetings

No Motions had been submitted under Council Procedure Rule No. 10.

You may be aware that in December, a Private Members Bill aimed at giving local councils powers to tackle irresponsible pavement parking was proposed in Westminster and I ask this Council to support legislation in this area.

Legislation would simplify the current situation on pavement parking across England and Wales by recreating the system that exists in London, which prevents people from parking on the pavement except in areas specially designated by the council.

Whilst the Bill didn’t progress, the Government is currently looking into potential solutions to the problems of pavement parking. I am asking if you will help by writing to the Secretary of State for Transport, to express support for a nationwide law on pavement parking.

A pavement parking law would make a huge difference to pedestrian safety all over the country and in our area through a driver mentality shift, and the Government needs to know that it has the support of councils as well as road users.

I propose that the Leader and Chief Executive write to and lobby our MP and other key bodies such as Department of Communities and Local Government, Local Government Association, District Councils’ Network and Select Committee based on these proposals.

I so move

Councillor Anne Welburn

A motion had been received from Councillor Anne Welburn.

“You may be aware that in December, a Private Members Bill aimed at giving local councils powers to tackle irresponsible pavement parking was proposed in Westminster and I ask this Council to support legislation in this area.

Legislation would simplify the current situation on pavement parking across England and Wales by recreating the system that exists in London, which prevents people from parking on the pavement except in areas specially designated by the council.  Whilst the Bill didn’t progress, the Government is currently looking into potential solutions to the problems of pavement parking. I am asking if you will help by writing to the Secretary of State for Transport, to express support for a nationwide law on pavement parking.

A pavement parking law would make a huge difference to pedestrian safety all over the country and in our area through a driver mentality shift, and the Government needs to know that it has the support of councils as well as road users.

I propose that the Leader and Chief Executive write to and lobby our MP and other key bodies such as DCLG, LGA, DCN and Select Committee based on these proposals.

I so move.”

The Leader of the Council responded by thanking Councillor Welburn for her motion.

“I believe that this is an important issue which can have an impact on the wellbeing of many of our residents. I agree with you that a change in the law would make a difference to pedestrian safety. As such I would be delighted to second your motion and I will write to the stakeholders you suggest if the Council share our views.”

Brief discussion ensued with Councillors stating that any response must be sensible and that the problem lay with planning permission being given for houses with insufficient parking provision.  Drivers refrained from parking on roads and causing obstructions, therefore parked on pavements.  However the plea for consideration of the matter had originally come from the Guide Dogs for the Blind association and there were also problems for wheelchairs and pushchairs.  Pedestrians should not have to walk on the road if drivers had parked irresponsibly.

It was stated that this was not something that traffic wardens could enforce as it was a police matter, however Councillor Welburn noted that this was a Private Members Bill to give powers to Councils, but the matter was complicated and the Department was looking at the issues.  The motion was to seek support for this work.

RESOLVED that the Leader of the Council write to the necessary bodies to express the support of West Lindsey District Council for a resolution to the problems.