Motorists will face tougher parking rules under new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who has taken over at Number 10. Local councils are being handed more powers to ban pavement parking in their areas, with fines for those who break the rules.
Birmingham City Council Plans to Apply for Powers
Town halls have been invited to apply for these powers, and Birmingham City Council has confirmed it intends to do so. The process of rolling out the ban, which already exists in London, began under Keir Starmer's Government. BirminghamLive understands the city council is waiting to hear more information from the Department for Transport about the process.
Focused Enforcement on Busy Streets
Rather than a blanket city-wide ban, laws are expected to be focused on certain streets, with the city centre and busy roads likely to be prioritised. Quieter residential streets are unlikely to be included unless there are specific concerns. Drivers will face fines for rule-breaking once the new laws come into force. Enforcement would likely work in a similar way to double yellow lines, with traffic wardens monitoring streets.
Campaigning for Safety
It follows years of campaigning on the issue to successive governments to improve safety for vulnerable groups like the elderly, disabled and parents with young kids. Councillor Majid Mahmood, Birmingham's former roads boss, said recently: "These powers will help us make our pavements safer, more accessible and more inclusive for everyone who relies on them. Inconsiderate and illegal pavement parking creates barriers to walking and cycling and for those who need mobility aids, and can contribute to road collisions."
