Calls grow for national pavement parking ban as wheelchair users face daily risks
- Perry Richardson
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
Allied Mobility, a leading UK supplier of wheelchair accessible vehicles, has spoken out following a parliamentary debate this week on the dangers posed by pavement parking. The company is calling on the Government to prioritise disabled access and support a nationwide ban in England.
While pavement parking is already banned in London and has recently been outlawed in Scotland, the rest of England continues to operate without consistent restrictions. Councils outside of London can act using Traffic Regulation Orders, but without a national framework, enforcement is limited and inconsistent.
Peter Facenna, Managing Director at Allied Mobility, said pavement parking remains a serious barrier to safe travel for many disabled people. He said: “At Allied Mobility, we understand the everyday challenges faced by wheelchair users and we’re speaking out because their needs matter deeply to us.
“Pavement parking might seem like a considerate choice for other road users, but it can have serious, even dangerous consequences for those who rely on accessible pavements.
“When cars block the path, wheelchair, powerchair and mobility scooter users are often forced into the road, with 99% reporting this experience. Without a nearby dropped kerb, this can lead to instability, injury, or worse.”
The company also highlighted that the issue affects other groups including those who are blind or partially sighted, and families using prams or pushchairs.
The comments come in support of MPs now reviewing the potential for a wider ban across England. During the debate in Westminster Hall on 3 September, Helen Maguire MP described the current system as “a patchwork of inconsistent rules” that has left pavements increasingly blocked. She supported a default national ban with local exceptions where necessary, aligning the rest of England with London’s clearer system.
The Government held a consultation on the issue in 2020, offering three options: refining current local authority powers, introducing civil enforcement, or applying a full national ban. Nearly five years on, no policy change has been announced.
Campaigners, industry representatives and mobility groups are now urging the Department for Transport to act. Allied Mobility say the issue is not just about convenience, but about basic rights.
Accessibility must be recognised not as a ‘nice-to-have’, but as a fundamental human right,” added Facenna.
The growing pressure places pavement parking back on the national agenda, with advocates making clear that continued inaction leaves disabled road and pavement users at risk.
