Pavement parking targeted in Brighton and Hove

Drivers who park on the pavement are to be targeted as part of a concerted campaign in Brighton and Hove.

Four areas are to be the focus of the crackdown announced by Brighton and Hove City Council.

The council said that the crackdown would start next month in places where people have reported problems with illegal and obstructive parking and parking and driving on pavements.

The council said: “All the targeted areas are on busy roads, some of which are routes to schools or near leisure facilities or shops.”

They are

• Portland Road, Hove, where the council said vehicles were blocking the views at junctions and pedestrian crossing points and driving on to pavements during the school run.
• Kingsway, outside the King Alfred Leisure Centre, where people driving on to the pavement to park have been coming into conflict with people using the leisure centre and seafront, including children.
• Nevill Road, Hove, between Eridge Road and Nevill Avenue, after the council said residents and Sussex Police had raised concerns about obstructive parking blocking views near the traffic lights by Woodland Drive, and people driving on the pavement during the school run.
• Ladies Mile Road, Patcham, between Warmdene Road and Highview Avenue South where pavement parking had worsened by the shopping parades and close to schools. The council said that there had been instances where cars had come into conflict with school children.

The council said that the education and enforcement campaign was being supported by Sussex Police, the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership and Guide Dogs.

The charity for the blind has been campaigning nationally for action to be taken against pavement parking because of the dangers for people with poor vision or blindness.

Geraint Evans, mobility team manager for Guide Dogs, said: “Imagine you have to step into a road where you can’t see oncoming traffic.

“People who are blind or partially sighted have to face this shocking reality every day when cars are parked on pavements.

“We are delighted that Brighton and Hove City Council is taking measures to prevent this form of inconsiderate and dangerous parking.”

Councillor Pete West, chairman of the council’s Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee, said: “Parking and driving over pavements causes considerable hazards for people, particularly in locations near schools, leisure facilities and shops.

“Some of this pavement parking has been going on for years and sadly it seems to be on the increase.

“The prevalence of people actually driving on the pavement and potentially putting others in danger is of great concern and the council is receiving many complaints from residents.

“In the autumn, the council will undertake a further campaign to tackle illegal parking outside schools and on routes to schools.

“Many children now walk or cycle to school and they should be able to do so in safety. Over 12,000 primary school children took part in last week’s Walk to School Week.”

Parking on the public highway on or behind double yellow lines is illegal, the council said. Posters will be going up in these areas from Sunday 1 June and warning notices issued for two weeks from Monday 9 June.

This will be followed by a week of enforcement action where people will receive penalty charge notices, starting from Monday 23 June.

During action days staff will also be looking for abandoned and stolen vehicles.

Alongside the enforcement action, the council’s road safety team will be promoting a “Park Safe/Walk Safe” education campaign to address unsafe parking and driver behaviour outside schools.

At the end of last year, the council began enforcing illegal pavement parking in lm Grove, Brighton.

As a result of the enforcement activity 70 vehicles that used to be parked on the pavements at junctions are no longer there which has transformed the area and improved visibility.

In the first two months 500 civil enforcement officer visits took place and 563 parking tickets were issued.

Previous attempts to prevent people parking outside their homes in part of Nevill Road failed after homeowners provided evidence that their properties had been built with extra wide pavements specifically for parking.