Drivers in Edinburgh could face a £100 fine for parking on pavements as the city council plans to become the first in Scotland to ban the practice. The new regulations also prohibit double parking and parking at dropped kerbs, though delivery drivers are exempt. National restrictions will come into force next month, with enforcement in Edinburgh starting in January 2024. Parking on pavements is presently only illegal in London, though police can take action if obstruction is caused by the driver. A new law enacted by Scotland’s government in 2021 allows local authorities to forbid pavement parking, a move that will allow councils to impose fines.
More than 500 Edinburgh streets are affected by pavement parking, according to the city council. A survey by the council indicates that 68% of residents support the proposal. Disabled individuals and parents with pushchairs face significant challenges from vehicles parked on pavements. Stuart Hay, director of Living Streets Scotland, an organisation that promotes ordinary walking, indicated his support for the move, while Niall Foley, lead external affairs manager at Guide Dogs Scotland, claimed the plan was essential to safeguard vulnerable pedestrians.
Although Edinburgh faces a large problem, no extra parking personnel will be hired to enforce the restriction, and the council claims the number of legal parking spots in the city is presently sufficient. Next week, councillors will review the plan, with implementation expected in the new year. Other local authorities, such as South Lanarkshire, may be responding to Edinburgh’s example by implementing a ban on pavement parking.
In South Lanarkshire, councillors expressed support for the idea but have yet to decide whether to put it into action. Some residential areas have higher levels of car possession than parking availability, according to the council. If enacted, the council stated it will take a low-key “soft approach” to guarantee that any enforcement action considers the impact on drivers. Scottish Borders Council has also identified areas where pavement parking is a problem and is using information gathered in a consultation to decide on a case-by-case basis where to implement a ban
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