Pavement parking 'encouraged' by local councils

Councils have said pavement parking can be necessary, particularly on older and more narrow streets

Half of all councils in England actively encourage parking on pavements through marked bays or signage, BBC research has found.

The Local Government Association said pavement parking was one of the most complained about issues, but "councils have to balance the needs of all users".

However, disability charities have said the practice makes streets harder to navigate for wheelchair users and people with limited sight.

Wheelchair user Hana Kitson said there were classes and activities she was unable to attend as she could not get past the cars parked on her street.

Hana Kitson said getting to the end of her road "is so difficult sometimes that it then feels like, well is this worth it?"

The Department for Transport said it was "giving councils stronger powers to tackle dangerous and inconsiderate pavement parking" - but on roads like Fordhouse Lane in Birmingham parking on the pavement is permitted.

Kitson, 39, lives near Fordhouse Lane and also experiences parking and access issues on her own street.

She said: "It narrows the pavement to the point that if you're using a pushchair or a wheelchair you can't easily get past."

She was very active when she worked as an army doctor, but since using a wheelchair after an accident she has struggled to access shops and events.

"I still try to be really active but I can't access those classes and community events... because I can't get past those cars."

Kitson said she was not anti-car or people being able to park near their home, but felt "we've become very car-centric".

"It's much more normal to have two working people or three working people within a household all of whom feel that they need a car, and public transport is not on time and it's not reliable and it's not necessarily outside your door," she added.

Said Zaidi, a Fordhouse Lane resident, said the road was not big enough for cars to be parked on both sides.

He argued there would be more room for pedestrians if all drivers "follow the rules and do not park across the white line".

Rob Moulds said walking down Fordhouse Lane while using a cane was "a nightmare"

The National Federation of the Blind has called for a full pavement parking ban, arguing any parking on pavements "damages them in the longer term, leaving them in a worse state for pedestrians".

Rob Moulds, 57, from Birmingham, is visually impaired and uses a cane when walking. He compared trying to find a path between bins and cars as being "like a pinball machine".

"You're going