Motorists in a Scottish council area are being warned of a significant change to parking regulations, with new rules coming into force from Monday that will eventually carry a £100 penalty.
What Are The New Parking Rules?
From Monday, 5 January 2026, East Renfrewshire Council will introduce a ban on three specific types of parking. The prohibition will cover vehicles parked on pavements, those engaged in double parking, and cars left blocking dropped kerbs. It is important to note that the rule regarding dropped kerbs does not apply to private driveways.
The local authority has decided to implement a three-month 'soft launch' period, running from 5 January until 31 March 2026. This initial phase is designed to give residents, businesses, and visitors time to adjust to the new regulations before formal enforcement begins.
How Will The 'Soft Launch' Work?
During this three-month adaptation window, drivers who are spotted flouting the new rules will not receive an immediate fine. Instead, council officers will place a warning notice on the windscreen of any vehicle parked irresponsibly on a pavement. This notice will inform the driver of their non-compliance and state that further offences will be subject to a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).
Formal enforcement is scheduled to commence on 1 April 2026. From that date onwards, drivers caught breaking the rules will face a £100 fine, which will be reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days.
Why Is The Ban Being Introduced?
The council conducted an extensive survey of all streets in the area before implementing the ban. This review considered multiple factors including road width, pavement size, existing parking arrangements, and proximity to key facilities like schools and health centres.
Councillor Danny Devlin, Convener for Environment and Housing, explained the motivation behind the new policy. He stated that the rules aim to 'reduce danger and inconvenience to people walking, wheeling, and cycling' caused by pavement parking.
'By introducing enforcement, the council hopes to make pavements and roads safer for everyone to use,' said Cllr Devlin. 'This will prioritise the safety of people in wheelchairs, those with mobility issues, and people with buggies and prams, who will be able to walk or wheel without having to go onto the road to pass a vehicle parked on a pavement, which many have to do currently.'
The council has also identified streets where exemptions may be necessary. Once a statutory process is complete, signs will be erected on any exempted roads to indicate they are not subject to the pavement parking prohibition.
As the rollout begins, drivers are being urged to adopt the new changes early to avoid receiving a penalty charge notice when the grace period ends.
