Renfrewshire Council to enforce pavement parking ban from next month

Motorists who park on pavements in Renfrewshire could be fined £100 from the beginning of next month as the council prepares to enforce a national ban.

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

While the local authority had targeted a previous start date of last November, attendants will now issue fines for non-compliance from Tuesday, April 1.

Culprits could land a £100 penalty, however, this would be reduced to £50 if paid within a fortnight.

Councillor Eddie Devine, who represents Paisley Southeast, said: “We need to do something because it’s getting out of hand, but the council should also be sympathetic to conditions in certain areas.

“I’m on board with the concept but there needs to be a common sense approach in how it’s actually enforced because of the layout of some streets.”

It follows a decision by the infrastructure, land and environment policy board in January to approve the commencement of enforcement activity.

To inform people of the ban, an initial two-week public notification period will begin from Monday, March 17, where awareness notices will be placed on irresponsibly parked vehicles to highlight the rules.

The focus will then be directed towards known hotspots, main arterial routes and reports of dangerous parking received from members of the public.

Councillor Will Mylet, who represents Paisley East and Central, said: “Obviously, they’ve said there’s going to be a soft approach initially but I’d liked to have seen immediate enforcement for dropped kerbs.

“It’s totally inconsiderate to park over those, particularly if people with prams or wheelchairs are trying to get past.

“The sooner we enforce that, the sooner drivers will learn that they shouldn’t do it.

“But hopefully the rules as a whole will allow people with disabilities to travel more freely and feel more empowered.”

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.

Any area under consideration for dispensation will not be subject to enforcement while it is under review, it is understood.

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