Honest John News Legal

Drivers urge action on pavement parking – but what’s the best solution?

Richard Aucock
Mon, 08 Sept 2025

More than eight in 10 drivers want the government to act on pavement parking in England – but they are split on the best course of action.

42% of drivers said they would support an outright ban on parking on pavements in England, found research by the RAC.

However, a virtually identical 41% felt councils should instead be given powers to ban parking pavements on specific roads more easily than they can today.

Just 13% said pavement parking shouldn’t be banned.

"There’s no doubting pavement parking is a serious issue in some communities that needs tackling," says RAC senor policy officer Rod Dennis.

"A clear majority of drivers agree and want to see an end to needless pavement parking that causes accessibility problems – but when it comes to solutions, the jury is out.

"This probably reflects the fact that not all UK streets are the same – after all, some drivers will put a tyre or two on the kerb on narrow residential streets to ensure other vehicles can still pass them, while not blocking pedestrians using the pavement.

"Even with an outright ban, councils would presumably still have to allow pavement parking in some places, to ensure streets remain passable."

Pavement parking has been banned in London since 1974. Offenders are fined between £140 and £160. Scotland also banned pavement parking in 2025, with a penalty of £100 (reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days).

No such general ban exists in England. Councils only have the option of consulting on implementing separate Traffic Regulation Orders, or TROs, to ban pavement parking on specific roads. This is costly and time-consuming.

Ministers have been looking at pavement parking since 2019, where the issue was highlighted in a report. Plans were then consulted on in 2020, but the response was never published.

The current government signalled its intention to take action on pavement parking back in July. "We look forward to seeing the government’s proposals in due course," says Dennis.

Ask HJ

My wife is disabled but received a fine for parking on the pavement - can she appeal?

My wife is disabled and parked her car fully on the footpath, the footpath was wide enough for prams wheelchair users to pass safely however my wife has received a PCNc for being parked on double yellows. She only parked on the footpath as in the disabled bay in front someone had parked and did not display a blue badge. Can she appeal?
Unfortunately the legalities of parking on the pavement are not as clear as they could or should be, outside London at least. Yellow lines do apply to the verge and the pavement, but it is the decision of local authorities over how and where they enforce this as it very much depends on the local environment in terms of pavement width, availability of parking, housing density and so on. Rule 244 of the Highway Code draws an important distinction between London and the rest of the UK, as it states: "You MUST NOT park partially or wholly on the pavement in London, and should not do so elsewhere unless signs permit it." The key factor here is the use of 'should not' as opposed to 'must not', which creates the grey area for interpretation on a local level. You can appeal the fine based on the fact that the disabled space was not available and that your wife is disabled, but it will be in the opinion of the local authority as to whether this is sufficient grounds to uphold the appeal.
Answered by David Ross
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