Cheltenham councillor blasts motorists who park on pavements

“Well, Barbara, you've said it yourself - no offence is committed by a vehicle parked partially on the pavement unless it causes an obstruction, and that isn't easy to prove (unless it's a large goods vehicle, in which case specific law covers it). You're a councillor and you make the byelaws. If you're that concerned, pass a byelaw banning the practice, otherwise stop complaining!”

“if i cant get past a car parked on the pavement then ill walk over the top of it”

“I shouldn't worry too much as councils are increasingly widening the area in which they are introducing meters to boost revenue. Cheltenham has a long sorry history of hating car drivers but then wants everyone to come visit here or work.
Build car parks instead of the monstrous housing. the new site opposite station would have been ideal but this ugly block going up now is first welcome to ' regency Cheltenham'
Why isn't Barbara ranting about that?.”

“myhomemyview - you can't have a policeman chasing every crook - enforcement is and should be light-touch and citizens should see the wisdom of complying with sensible rules.

Parking and related charges is a sore issue all over - and high chages go hand in hand with reducing on-road parking, not necessary because it reduces congestion or lowers the carbon footprint.

The general public see parking regulation as something they have to live with and not necessarily like. Breaking parking rules - not always clear in any case, and where there is room for compromise turning a blind eye.

Those clamouring for stricter enforcement ought to call for more balanced/intelligent design allowing for the needs of the car user as well as pedestrians. Regrettably it has been a one way street with the council imposing charges and reducing on-road parking spaces, introducing resident parking permits, etc, willy nilly expecting people to just do what they tell you.

At the end of the day, enforcement can only achieve so much, it already costs the earth, need for commonsense.”

“I parked legally near the train station when the car park was full and had my car blocked in by an illegally parked car which I assume belonged to some disgruntled local resident. There are two sides to every story. Parking rules are enforced close to the town centre centre, look further out any there are badly and illegally parked cars all over the place that never get a ticket. How about a more balanced approach ?”

“Back in the '80s, I worked in a shop. One day, while we were having deliveries, a police officer came in and gave the lorry driver a good ticking-off, because he'd obstructed the pavement. "You can hold up as much traffic as you like," he said, "but never obstruct the pavement".
I'm sure that's as true today as it was then.
Stopping to unload on double yellow lines is fine (I hope the targets of Mrs Driver's spleen weren't simply unloading) but obstructing a pavement to the extent that a wheelchair can't get through is an offence.”

“This shows the quality of Councillor walking the corridors of public office in Cheltenham. Surely we can do better than this... a fine example of someone who has added little value to the taxpayer for many years. Try focusing on bigger issues - a career spent catching mice whilst missing the elephants.
Or is success measured in grains of sand - or free meals received...........”

“"these problems are added to by vegetation hanging over the pavement from gardens." I am waiting for her rant on inconsiderate gardeners!

I agree that some people take the mick, but don't criticise people for parking in residential streets (where there is no resident's parking) rather than paying at the station, these are tough times and if residents don't like it they should buy a house with a drive or live somewhere else.”

“Has Councillor Driver ever visited Milan? you need an overhead crane to move cars parked bumper to bumper on streets, pavements, and in-between, Perhaps the best thing is to park the cars so tight traffic wardens will have a job to read the numbers.

Seriously - this is overdone - people will park where they can and those moving to part on the pavement in the misguided belief they are not blocking the road and at the same time leave room for pedestrians. May be traffic engineers need to redesign the road/pavement interface to allow coexistence between man and machine.”

“Amongst Barbara Driver complaints about cars parking on pavements she seems to imply criticism of the Police for prioritising any action against those who park on pavements according to the degree, if any of obstruction caused.

She might listen to Her Majestesties Inspectorate of Constabulary, ACPO and the Police Federation about the effect her parties cuts are having on front line policing. Given the many competing demands for diminishing Police rescources; is it realistic to expect more attention to pavement parking?

Just as many found it difficult to empathise when the doctors struck of pensions, who many will lose sleep for the well heeled residents of the "Eldorados and Glen Cairn Park Road" most with their own driveways. The town centre attracts more resources because it vitality affects us all.”