Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of levels of support for a default pavement parking ban among the general public.

The Department is fully aware that pavement parking can pose problems for pedestrians, particularly for people with sight or mobility impairments. Local authorities already have powers to restrict pavement parking, but the Department has consulted on additional measures to help councils tackle this problem. The Department has not had recent discussions with Gateshead Council, but the consultation was open to all local authorities.