Renfrewshire Council hands out over 300 fines in first months of pavement parking ban

Hundreds of fines have already been handed out by Renfrewshire Council as it enforces a ban on pavement parking in the local authority.

A total of 230 penalty charge notices were issued for contraventions in April – the first month of doing so – while a further 71 followed between May 1 and 11.

The figures were confirmed in a recent report to the infrastructure, land and environment policy board.

The law – which also prohibits double parking and parking at a dropped kerb pedestrian crossing – is designed to create safer and more accessible streets.

Culprits can land a £100 penalty, however, this is reduced to £50 if paid within a fortnight.

Councillor Chris Gilmour, Labour group environment spokesperson, said he was “happy” to see enforcement but hopes the policy continues to “evolve”.

The veteran politician, who represents Johnstone North and the surrounding villages, added: “It’s going to be a process and there might still be options to take further areas into consideration for exemption, it’s not a one and done.

“Obviously, I would hope people choose not to park on pavements in areas where you’re going to stop people with prams or cause issues for people who need to access the footpaths.

“Hopefully, it will reduce inconsiderate parking but we need a measured approach.

“It means an awful lot to people in Renfrewshire because many people live in small villages and housing schemes which were designed before everybody had a car or two cars.

“Renfrewshire Council needs to take cognisance of that. There’s a balance to be struck because it’s such an all-encompassing policy.”

It was previously disclosed 269 warning envelopes were distributed in a bid to raise awareness of the new rules. This took place during a two-week public notification period before fines for non-compliance started from April 1.

According to the council, feedback from wardens suggested a “positive response” in the main from the public to the “soft launch period”.

The report added: “Enforcement of the act commenced on April 1 with this being driven by community intelligence, in addition to community support officers dealing with incidents which they come across during their regular patrols.”

A total of 300 of the penalty charges notices have related to parking on the pavement, while just one has been linked to parking at a dropped kerb pedestrian crossing.

Exemptions can be granted at specific streets where there’s not enough space for emergency vehicles to achieve access without vehicles parking on the pavement or where there is at least 1.5 metres for pedestrians when a vehicle is parked on the pavement.

Once an exemption order is approved by the board, it will come into effect and the locations will have relevant signage and road markings.