Bristol residents have been left furious over plans by the city council to ban parking on pavements in a bid to combat the number of roads clogged up by cars.
The controversial measure, proposed by the Green Party-led Bristol City Council, could see motorists slapped with £100 fines for breaching the kerbside rules.
If implemented, Bristol would become the first English city outside London to enforce a ban and would follow a similar measure rolled out in Scotland.
The move has sparked fierce debate in areas like Bishopston and Totterdown, where narrow Victorian streets and a lack of off-road parking have long forced residents to park partially on pavements.
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Support for a ban on pavement parking has grown in Bristol
GETTYThe proposed ban comes after reports found that many Bristol streets are now lined with wall-to-wall vehicles, creating a headache for both motorists and pedestrians.
To combat this, a petition was launched by the Green Party to ban pavement parking in Bristol and has already amassed over 1,500 signatures.
It stated: “Pavement parking can also force people into the road, putting themselves at risk from traffic. The law on pavement parking is a grey area, and councils have limited powers to ban it.
"But Sheffield City Council is making the most of the powers it does have and is clamping down on pavement parking in those city-centre streets that the law allows it to.”
The petition added: “Bristol could do the same right now and could call on the Government to strengthen [the] council’s powers to ban pavement parking where bans are needed.
“Pavements should be for people, not cars. Please add your name to our petition to ask Bristol City Council to take action on pavement parking.”
But the proposal has been met with mixed views by residents with one person voicing their frustrations with the proposed ban.
One local shared: “Pavement parking is a problem for some but banning would make it much worse for service, work and delivery vehicles. And residents. Then there is the enforcement issue. Corner parking is dangerous...but never enforced. Good luck with this one!!”
Meanwhile, another resident said: "Positive strategy from Bristol Greens - All cities should be tackling anti-social and dangerous parking like this.
"With 32+million cars on UK streets something more than contrary party politics needs to happen, doesn't it!? I think this would be fantastic to do alongside a tighter clean air zone and workplace parking levy.”
However, disability advocates have warned that someday a pedestrian could be “killed because of a vehicle parked on the pavement".
The council's plans extend beyond pavement parking, with further deterrent measures also in place. These include increasing double yellow lines and replacing at least one on-street parking spot on each of Bristol's 1,500 streets with bike hangers, planters, or benches annually.
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If the rules are introduced, drivers could be fined £100 for pavement parking
GETTYTo fund the measures, drivers have faced steep cost increases, with annual resident permit fees set to rise from £56 to £124. A potential Workplace Parking Levy could see commuters charged an additional £20 per week.
Councillor Ed Plowden said: "We know that taking action for the health and safety of everyone in our communities means helping all of us to make shifts in the way we travel."
