Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will commission research on the potential impact of pavement parking on (a) disabled people and (b) other pedestrians.

Local authorities are responsible for pavement maintenance and already have powers to tackle pavement parking by implementing Traffic Regulation Orders. The Department has consulted on further options to help local authorities tackle this issue and will publish a formal response when final decisions have been taken. The Department is fully aware that pavement parking can pose problems for all pedestrians, particularly for people with sight or mobility impairments, and can be the cause of damage to pavements.