The City of Edinburgh Council has become the first Scottish local authority to enforce the ban on pavement parking introduced by The Scottish Government in December.
From today any driver who parks on pavements, on verges, at pedestrian crossings or who double parks in the roadway will be at risk of a £100 fine. There will be no exemptions, and the council will monitor the new regulations to see if any mitigation measures are required. (But there are exceptions to the government legislation which includes for example emergency response vehicles).
Parking attendants will have the power to issue penalty charge notices to drivers who flout the rules.
The council surveyed more than 5,000 roads in Edinburgh in preparation and leafleted areas where pavement parking was a problem.
Cllr Scott Arthur, Transport Convener, said that he hopes there will be few fines, but if there are any then he promises to use the monies to repair pavements. He said: “We’re leading the way as Scotland’s first local authority to enforce against pavement parking, as well as parking at crossing points and double parking.
“This is a change that we’ve wanted to make for a long time, and I’ve heard from many people who say it will make their day-to-day life much easier. It will make our streets safer for everyone, in particular those with visual impairments or mobility issues, and I’m delighted that reports of pavement parking are already coming down.
“Now the restrictions are in place, we are relying on the public to park safely and considerately, making sure not to block any roads. We’ll continue to monitor streets across the city to make sure the impacts on the wider network are minimal.”
Guide dog owner Elaine MacKenzie said it is very scary to have to follow her dog Tessy out into the road if th pavement is blocked by a parked vehicle.
David Hunter Convener of the Living Streets Edinburgh Group said that he welcomed this enforcement of the legislation which had taken more than a decade get passed.
If a vehicle driver parks incorrectly then any member of the public can report this using the council’s online form. A parking attendant will then be sent to check the situation and the vehicle will be impounded if it is causing an obstruction to other road users.
The Scottish Government has explained the reason for the new legislation: “Parking on the pavement affects people daily. It can force people onto the road and increases the risk of accidents. It is especially difficult for disabled people, parents with children and people with limited mobility to get past a parked vehicle. Parking safely in a designated space can help keep the pavements accessible for all.”
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