Drivers could be 'stopped from parking outside their own homes'

Drivers have been warned they could be stopped from parking outside their homes in certain circumstances under new laws being considered by the Government. A nationwide ban on pavement parking could come into force over the coming months.

It could create problems for some homeowners who don't have driveways or have more than one car and have to park on the roads, particularly in narrow and cramped streets. These motorists may feel they have little alternative but to prop their cars on the pavement so they are out of the way of passing traffic.

On some streets there might not be enough space to park on the road, and it could mean drivers having to find somewhere else to park away from their homes. A possible ban has been on the table for the last few years but has never been confirmed by previous Governments. Labour will now have to decide whether it goes ahead.

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But there are questions about how a pavement parking ban would ever be fully policed, with councils set to face more pressure to use resources to monitor streets. Transport secretary Louise Haigh said the Government was "considering options" before reaching a final decision.

Campaign groups say a nationwide pavement parking ban is needed to improve safety for disabled and vulnerable pedestrians, as well as parents with young children. It follows complaints that pavements are too often blocked by larger, modern cars, forcing people out into the road. Ms Haigh said she understood the worries about accessibility.

The added strain on local authorities in enforcing any ban is another consideration for the Government. Ms Haigh said: “I completely recognise how important it is for accessibility. We’re considering what options we have available, because we want to make sure that any measures are not burdensome on local authorities and are done in the most effective way.

"But I am really committed to responding to the consultation as quickly as possible."