Controversial pavement parking Rhondda Cynon Taf
Is it time to make our streets safer for children on supposedly safe routes to school? A number of Councilors within the Rhondda CynonTaf Council think it is.
To consider the under-mentioned notice of Motion standing in the name of councillors E Webster K Morgan P Jarman S Evans J Williams A Cox S Rhees Owin M Weaver E Griffiths F Fychan e Stephens L Jones D Davies C Chapman J Davies J Cullwick.
Did the council pass this motion perhaps residents of RCT can have an answer and explanation from the council?
Parking in our narrow streets is becoming a nightmare especially with families with more than 2 vehicles per household, there needs to be a radical reform in the way we park our vehicles in the future with the inevitable electric vehicle battery charging facility that will be required which is prominent in the news. Vehicles parked right next to road junctions is another hazard for pedestrians blocking pavements and obstructing visibility for other motorists. Rule 243 of the Highway Code states you must not park opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction, try enforcing this in valley streets?
Perhaps parallel parking on one side of the narrow streets and one-way systems’ introduced with each house allocated space with commercial vehicles parked in communal areas as some tradespeople are on 24-hour call. Residents need to put forward ideas, as they have to live in the area not have something enforced on them by the council.
Obstructing the highway or the pavement seems to be the norm now with more and more cars and commercial vehicles, not just parking over the kerbs, but also completely obstructing the pavement, at the moment in RCT it is the role of the South Wales Police to address this ongoing problem of highway obstruction. Are the police ignoring the problem because they do not have the manpower to prevent this ongoing problem and the danger it causes to children, the disabled, mothers with prams and the general public?
Police Community Support Officers can they apply a (fixed penalty notices) on vehicles obstructing pavements? https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/117572/pcso-powers.pdf
We are informed South Wales Police has of September 2020, the force has 3,119 police officers, 152 special constables, 366 police community support officers, 265 police support volunteers, and 2,167 staff.
Lee Waters who was the Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport at the time produced a report, entitled Welsh Government response to the recommendations made in the Pavement Parking the Task Force report where it states.
“Currently it is not an offence to park on pavements in Wales, however, the Police can enforce the existing criminal offence of causing or permitting a motor vehicle or trailer to stand on a road so as to cause any unnecessary obstruction of the road but this offence is rarely enforced.”
Did MS Lee Walters take into account If the path or pavement is blocked deliberately it's a criminal offence under Section 137 of the Highways Act 1980? Offenders can face a fine and criminal record. https://senedd.wales/media/35rp2xtn/dp-1868-16-21.pdf
Obstruction of the Highway
You could be committing this offence if, without lawful authority or excuse, you wilfully obstruct the free passage of the highway. The ‘highway’ includes the road, the pavement, grass verges and private property used as a public thoroughfare.
‘Obstruction’ includes anything that prevents passing and re-passing along the highway. You do not have to be blocking the whole width of the highway. The offence is obstructing the highway itself, not other highway users, so it is not necessary to prove that anyone was actually obstructed.
Sustrans believes pavement parking should be made illegal across the UK.
Pavement Parking on the link below page 90
