The pavement parking ban in Scotland was introduced to improve safety and accessibility — especially for disabled people, older residents, and those using prams or mobility aids. These are goals we fully support.

But the rollout is already creating serious problems on residential streets that were never designed to accommodate full on-road parking. In many communities, the result is reduced access, increased congestion, and greater risk to vulnerable pedestrians.

What’s going wrong?

Many older streets have narrow carriageways, sloped or uneven pavements, and limited off-street parking. Previously, a practical compromise — partial pavement parking — allowed cars to park without blocking the road or the pavement entirely. This has now been removed, without any local assessment.

Councils are responsible for enforcement, but they are bound by national guidance and cannot easily suspend enforcement once it begins. Many streets that clearly struggle under a full ban have not been assessed, not been consulted, and do not qualify for exemption under the current criteria.

On collection days which are increasing, bins further reduce usable pavement space — yet enforcement continues regardless. In some areas, residents are paving over gardens to park, undermining environmental goals in the process.

Who is affected?

Families with young children, disabled residents, carers, delivery drivers, and emergency services — anyone trying to live, move, or work on streets that don’t fit the assumptions built into this legislation.

Why this matters now

Enforcement has already begun — but a Scottish Parliament petition process entered cannot be reviewed until after the summer recess. By then, the damage may already be done.

Without a pause, enforcement will reshape access and safety on streets across Scotland without proper audit, consultation, or accountability.

What we are asking for

We are calling on the Scottish Government and local councils to:

Suspend enforcement rollout nationally until full reviews are carried out

Audit street conditions, including pavement width, surface, and gradient

Consult affected residents directly

Apply exemptions where enforcement risks making streets less safe, not more

Create a flexible framework that allows for local discretion and case-by-case decisions

This is not a call to scrap the ban. It is a call to implement it responsibly — with proper local knowledge, evidence, and a focus on real-world safety.