Councils could get more powers to ban pavement parking under plans from Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.

He’s launching a consultation into making it easier for councils to prohibit pavement parking in their areas, giving councils powers to fine drivers who park on paths, and a London-style nationwide ban on pavement parking.

However, he says, there is still a major role for cars and other private vehicles, so any future plans will need to take this into consideration.

“Parking on pavements means wheelchair users, visually impaired people and parents with pushchairs can be forced into the road, which is not only dangerous but discourages people from making journeys,” said Shapps. “A key part of our green, post-COVID recovery will be encouraging more people to choose active travel, such as walking, so it is vital that we make the nation’s pavements accessible for everyone.”

The Government points to research from the charity Guide Dogs suggesting 32% of people with vision impairments and 48% of wheelchair users were less willing to go out on their own because of pavement parking, decreasing independence and contributing towards isolation.