Senedd: Skates pressed over delay to pavement parking ban
The Welsh Government has been urged to move forward with plans to tackle pavement parking, with Transport Secretary Ken Skates telling the Senedd discussions are ongoing about giving councils new enforcement powers.
The issue was raised during questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales on Wednesday.
Rhys ab Owen said progress had stalled since a 2019 Welsh Government consultation on banning pavement parking.
He pointed out that Scotland has already legislated and is now enforcing restrictions, with local authorities able to exempt certain roads.
Plans to consult further on legislation were postponed in 2023 to allow councils to focus on the rollout of Wales’ default 20mph speed limit.
Mr ab Owen questioned why Wales had yet to introduce similar measures.
In response, Mr Skates said two strands were being considered: education and legal change.
He told Members:
“There are two approaches that need to be taken here – one is education and exposure to the risks…”
He highlighted safety concerns, particularly for people who are blind or partially sighted, where blocked pavements can force pedestrians into the road.
On legislation, he said the UK Government has recently consulted on giving local authorities powers to act against unnecessary obstruction of pavements.
He added:
“The Welsh Government endorses this approach and we are in discussions with the UK Government on how it can be applied in Wales.
“The outcome, hopefully, of the discussions will mean that Wales, should we wish to join, can introduce a traffic contravention for pavement parking, subject to civil enforcement.”
That could mean councils being able to issue penalty charge notices, rather than relying on police obstruction powers.
For communities across Flintshire and Deeside, pavement parking is a regular complaint — particularly on narrower residential streets and newer housing estates where driveway space is limited.
Joel James raised concerns about road layouts in new-build developments, saying insufficient parking provision can lead to vehicles mounting pavements.
He said planning policy should better reflect levels of car ownership.
Mr Skates responded that improved public transport and better urban design should reduce reliance on multiple cars per household. He referenced recently re-regulated bus services as part of that wider strategy.
At present, there is no blanket ban on pavement parking in Wales.
Any move to introduce a specific civil traffic offence would require further agreement and implementation work.
No timetable was confirmed during the exchange.
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