, Politics and parking Leading the way The UK government has finally responded to the Transport Select Committees report on pavement parking and made the welcome announcement that it plans to hold a public consultation this summer. Just two weeks before, things were quite different, as Sarah Greenslade, BPA public affairs and communications officer, reports At the beginning of March, I found myself in the good company of many dogs at a House of Lords reception organised by the charity Guide Dogs, to help drum up support for a new private members Pavement Parking Bill.* Lord Low of Dalston is the sponsor and has been a long-time supporter of Guide Dogs. He is blind, although he chooses not to have a guide dog. Simon Daws and Emma Free, who work for Guide Dogs in Suffolk, spoke passionately about how pavement parking frequently forces them into the road and oncoming traffic, making them feel disorientated and anxious. Simon described how he has campaigned for seven years for pavement parking to be banned. The BPA has long lobbied for a UKwide common standard to enable local authorities to manage and enforce parking on footways, with the presumption that obstructive and parking on pavements is not allowed. England is playing catch-up with Scotland and Wales on this. Wales looks likely to recommend decriminalising the obstruction offence, which would allow civil enforcement officers (CEOs) to issue penalty charge notices and so allow ad hoc implementation, avoiding the need for large-scale surveys and exemptions. Scotland has decided to introduce a national ban on pavement and double parking through the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019, with local authorities able to make exemptions from the national ban as long as strict criteria are met. The UK government is now giving serious thought as to how a nationwide ban on pavement parking might work, allowing for exceptions where pavement parking may be permitted or necessary. A tailored approach will undoubtedly be needed in rural and suburban areas, which face very different challenges. While the announcement is welcome, it is however disappointing that government is choosing to go for a further consultative process. After all, the Transport Committees pavement parking inquiry had more than 400 responses last year. We are mindful of the history of this campaign: in 2015, Simon Hoare MP was persuaded to withdraw his Pavement Parking Bill because the government promised to review legislation and assess the implications of a new law. Towards the end of the reception, I happened to cast my eye around the plush reception room. I realised all the guide dogs had laid down at their owners feet no doubt tired from a days lobbying. They had earned their rest after doing a great job at winning the backing of several Lords for this very worthwhile bill. The BPA has long lobbied for a UK-wide common standard to enable local authorities to manage and enforce parking on footways * britishparking.co.uk/News/pavementparking-update/248215 40 britishparking.co.uk PN Apr20 pp40-41 Political Perspective.indd 40 24/03/2020 14:26 20191