Oral Answers to Questions

Allison Gardner Excerpts

Thursday 20th November 2025 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The question is about driving tests, so as important as that matter is, the hon. Member would do better to try during topical questions.

[Dr Allison Gardner (Stoke-on-Trent South) (Lab)]

12. What steps she is taking to promote active travel.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Lilian Greenwood)]

On 3 November, the Government launched a consultation to inform the development of the third cycling and walking investment strategy—CWIS3. That follows the announcement of £616 million of capital funding for active travel at the spending review, with allocations and details concerning revenue funding to follow in due course.

[Dr Gardner]

My constituents in Stoke-on-Trent South have told me that they cannot move safely around their community because vehicles parked on pavements force pedestrians into the road. Similarly, Staffordshire Sight Loss Council has raised with me the dangers that pavement parking creates for people with vision loss. Of course, that also impacts parents with buggies and wheelchair users. Will the Minister ensure that active travel planning and investment are used to tackle pavement parking and that accessibility is at the forefront, so that no one is excluded from safely moving around their community?

[Lilian Greenwood]

Earlier this year, we announced £300 million of funding for active travel for local authorities, supporting the delivery of high-quality pavements across England to enable more people to walk and 20 million new walk-to-school journeys by children and their parents. My hon. Friend is absolutely right that pavements must be clear and accessible. The Government recognise that pavement parking can endanger pedestrians, especially children, disabled people and parents trying to walk with prams and buggies, which is why I intend to publish our consultation response and announce our next steps on pavement parking policy very shortly.