Brighton & Hove City Council has hailed the government’s latest blitz on pavement parking. The fresh crackdown aims to unblock footpaths and make streets safer for all pedestrians.
Government Gives Councils New Muscle to Ban Pavement Parking
The Department for Transport (DfT) is set to hand councils powerful new powers to outlaw pavement parking across entire neighbourhoods, ditching the old, slow-by-street system. This means councils can act faster and slash the bureaucratic hassle.
Currently, councils battle a legal minefield for each individual street, slowing efforts to stop pavement parking. The change is a game-changer for those who struggle with blocked paths—including wheelchair users and parents with buggies.
Brighton Council Cheers Move to Clear Pavements
“This is very welcome news from the government and will help us tackle a persistent problem we’ve been wanting to address for some time,” said Councillor Trevor Muten, Brighton’s Cabinet Member for Transport and City Infrastructure.
“Parking on pavements causes real safety and accessibility issues, especially for disabled people and those with mobility challenges. Plus, it damages pavements, costing public money to fix. These new powers will give us the muscle to keep pavements clear and safe for all.”
Brighton Ready to Crack Down Once Rules Drop
Brighton Council is now waiting for the official guidance from the DfT on how to enforce the new rules fairly and effectively. Councillor Muten says he’s chomping at the bit to start rolling out changes.
“We want to create safer streets for everyone — residents and visitors alike,” he added. The DfT promises to reveal more details later this year, suggesting Brighton’s pavements could soon be a lot less cluttered—and a lot safer.
