Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to tackle pavement parking where alternatives are available; whether he has had discussions with city councils on the potential merits of prohibiting pavement parking where it is feasible; what assessment he has made of the minimum width of footway needed to be accessible for all disabled people; and whether he is taking steps to help reduce the potential impact of pavement parking on bus journey times.

The Department is fully aware that pavement parking can pose problems for all pedestrians, particularly for people with sight or mobility impairments. Local authorities already have powers to restrict pavement parking. We have undertaken a consultation on additional options to help councils tackle pavement parking outside London and it received views on many issues including minimum footway clearances and public transport. We will publish our formal response in due course.

The Department has produced good practice guidance on designing accessible public realm, in Inclusive Mobility: A Guide to Best Practice on Access to Pedestrian and Transport Infrastructure. This includes recommendations on minimum footway widths. Inclusive Mobility can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inclusive-mobility-making-transport-accessible-for-passengers-and-pedestrians