Crackdown on rogue parkers being urged

DRIVERS squeeze past each other

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LIB-DEM councillors have urged the council to get tougher on selfish motorists who park on pavements.

They claim police officers should issue fixed penalty notices if drivers are blocking the footpath.

Former police officer, Councillor Chris Gloster, who proposed the motion, said: "One issue that brings me a lot of complaints from residents relates to vehicles parked on the pavement causing inconvenience to residents and footpath users alike.

Priorities

"There is currently no specific legislation outlawing parking on the pavement per se.

"Instead police officers are forced to use the offence of unnecessary obstruction when dealing with these incidents and, on a scale of priorities, these types of calls fall to the bottom of the list for Greater Manchester Police to resource as, like every other public service, they are stretched to the limit due to under funding and under staffing. When the police can respond, it is usually in the shape of a local police community support officer who can only speak to the offenders and advise, as they are not empowered to deal with the matter by means of fixed penalty notice, unless they are a traffic PCSO, which our community PCSOs are not.

"In a town like Oldham, it is a difficult call to introduce local by-laws banning pavement parking outright, particularly in built up areas with on street parking and narrow roads, and the Liberal Democrat Group have resisted making that call in the hope that a sensible solution that targets the selfish and inconsiderate, but works for the wider community, can be achieved."

Councillor Rod Blyth, who seconded the motion, said: "Selfish pavement parking is a hazard for pedestrians, especially those with sight loss, parents with pushchairs, wheelchair users and other people with disabilities.

Robust
"Night-time is also a big issue with emergency vehicles unable to access some of our streets due to the narrowness that inconsiderately-parked vehicles cause.

"A robust approach to enforcement is needed."

The council's chief executive will write to the GMP's Chief Constable to enforce the legislation in relation to obstructive pavement parking, and to empower local police community support officers to issue fixed penalty notices where appropriate.