What Local Councils are / are not doing
The local Councils are not doing enough.
They are concentrating on just few 'blackspots', and in many places, the situation is out of control.
They respond as if they problem is just one particular vehicle, and if the particular vehicle has gone, then the problem is solved as far as they are concerned. The real problem is the general trend across Wirral and Chester to ignore the rights of pedestrians.
Wirral Council
It seems that several years ago Wirral Council decided that parking on pavements was inevitable and it would not oppose it. In making this decision, Wirral Council did not consult with those most affected i.e. those with physical disabilities and impaired vision, parents and children who regularly use pavements, and general pedestrians who travel on foot rather than by car for financial reasons, for fitness, or out of respect for the environment. These groups have all been severely inconvenienced and their safety has been jepodised. Wirral pedestrian accident statistics have worsened over the last few years. Wirral Council should acknowledge its mistake and reverse its policy.
Traffic wardens employed by NCP and working indirectly for the Council are responsible for enforcing parking restrictions where they are in force (e.g. double yellow lines), but have no powers elsewhere (where the Police are responsible). Wirral Council should liaise with the Police so that the rights and safety of pedestrians are protected.
Recent Council documents:
2006
• Local Strategic Partnership: ACCIDENT MODERNISATION TEAM Road Safety NEIGHBOURHOOD RENEWAL THEME PLAN
www.wirral.gov.uk/LGCL/100004/ 200033/10010/RoadSafetyThemePlan.pdf - this showed a trend to an increase in child pedestrian KSI (11 to 15 yr old)
2007
• A report to the Cabinet on Pavement/verge parking - 28 March 2007 - from The Director of Technical Services:
www.wirral.gov.uk/Minute/public/cabeng070328rep3_23542.pdf
2008
• Wirral Council adopted new arrangements for Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE) on 31st March 2008.
See www.wirral.gov.uk/LGCL/100011/200072/471/content_0000750.html.
It includes the Question and Answer:
Q: Will I receive a PCN [Penalty Charge Notice] for parking on the pavement or verge?
You can receive a PCN if you park partly or wholly on a pavement or verge that is adjacent to yellow lines or if a no footway/verge parking order is present and indicated by signs. If you park a HGV on a pavement or verge you may receive a PCN even if no yellow lines exist. Parking on footways obstructs the way for pedestrians and causes damage to the surface and equipment underneath.
We feel that Wirral Council should rapidly implement this system so that the rights of pedestrians are upheld. You can receive a PCN if you park partly or wholly on a pavement or verge that is adjacent to yellow lines or if a no footway/verge parking order is present and indicated by signs. If you park a HGV on a pavement or verge you may receive a PCN even if no yellow lines exist. Parking on footways obstructs the way for pedestrians and causes damage to the surface and equipment underneath.
• We are very pleased that the following motion was passed unanimously by Wirral Councillors on 21st April 2008:
INVOLVING PEOPLE IN MAKING STREETS SAFER
(1) Council recognises the difficulties faced by many people who have mobility problems in getting across our busy streets while going about their daily business.
(2) It believes that those affected have a vital role to play in identifying barriers in getting to surgeries, shops, bus stops and so on. It recognises the work being done by organisations such as Living Streets in training people in carrying out audits of the roads in their areas; these identify the problems that people face in travelling safely on foot.
(3) Council resolves to invite the Older Peoples Parliament to discuss ways in which older people can be involved in drawing up local plans to inform the on-going work of the Council.
(4) It instructs officers to contact Living Streets and other organisations with similar aims to find what advice can be made available to take forward this work, and report back to the Streetscene and Transport Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 5 June 2008.
(1) Council recognises the difficulties faced by many people who have mobility problems in getting across our busy streets while going about their daily business.
(2) It believes that those affected have a vital role to play in identifying barriers in getting to surgeries, shops, bus stops and so on. It recognises the work being done by organisations such as Living Streets in training people in carrying out audits of the roads in their areas; these identify the problems that people face in travelling safely on foot.
(3) Council resolves to invite the Older Peoples Parliament to discuss ways in which older people can be involved in drawing up local plans to inform the on-going work of the Council.
(4) It instructs officers to contact Living Streets and other organisations with similar aims to find what advice can be made available to take forward this work, and report back to the Streetscene and Transport Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 5 June 2008.
What other councils are doing:
Lewisham Council takes the problem seriously:
Parking on pavements:
The Council has a responsibility to keep the roads and footpaths safe to use. A London-wide ban on pavement parking is strictly enforced and applies to all parking on pavements, verges and central reservations, 24 hours a day.
Pavement parking is allowed under certain circumstances and signs and white boxes on the ground show where and how far on the pavement it is permitted to park.
Illegally parked vehicles cost the Council thousands of pounds a year in damage to paving and grass verges, and cause serious problems for blind, disabled and older people.
See: www.lewisham.gov.uk/TransportAndStreets/Parking/ParkingPavements.htmThe Council has a responsibility to keep the roads and footpaths safe to use. A London-wide ban on pavement parking is strictly enforced and applies to all parking on pavements, verges and central reservations, 24 hours a day.
Pavement parking is allowed under certain circumstances and signs and white boxes on the ground show where and how far on the pavement it is permitted to park.
Illegally parked vehicles cost the Council thousands of pounds a year in damage to paving and grass verges, and cause serious problems for blind, disabled and older people.
Oxford City Council also uses a white box system to mark out permitted pavement parking.
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