A DISPUTE has broken out over whether there is a problem with cars parking on pavements in Droitwich.
Following calls to ban pavement parking in Bromsgrove and other areas in a bid to improve pedestrian safety, Wychavon District Council has denied there is an issue with it in Droitwich, saying there has been ‘very low levels of complaints’.
The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents more than 370 councils in England and Wales, has said councils across the country need to be flexible in introducing a ban on illegal parking which would aim to improve pedestrian safety.
Already in place in London for the past 40 years, the ban would stop pedestrians from having to risk their lives, free up congested pavements and stop damage to paving and grass verges.
Christine Baxter, Car Parking Services Manager for Wychavon said: “We have very low levels of complaints regarding parking on pavements, although we know this can be extremely frustrating for pavement users when it does happen.
“This is something that in Wychavon is enforced by the police, if we were to receive high levels of complaints we would discuss the issue with Worcestershire County Council in conjunction with the police to see what more could be done.
“We would encourage residents not to park on pavements as it obstructs it for pedestrians especially those in wheelchairs and with pushchairs.”
Despite Wychavon’s response, Droitwich Safer Neighbourhood Team said parking issues are ‘frequent’ in the town and can be difficult to resolve as there is no specific offence for parking on pavements.
A spokesperson said: “Whilst a ban would obviously prevent people from parking on pavements, it would raise the question of where the vehicles would park instead.
“Many people feel that they are actually being helpful by not blocking the road, which can be an issue on narrower roads.
“Realistically, it would be difficult to judge if a ban would help until one were in place and we could see the effect it has.”
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