Edinburgh parking: More than 8,000 fines issued in first year of council’s pavement parking ban

On January 29 last year, the City of Edinburgh Council became the first local authority in to ban drivers parking on pavements, at dropped kerbs and from double parking. The move came after officials surveyed 5,217 Edinburgh streets and identified 590 mostly residential streets where pavement parking was causing a significant issue.

Figures released by the council show that in the first year of the ban 8,394 penalty charge notices (PCN) were issued to drivers flouting the rules. As of January 26, 5,153 fines were issued for footway parking, 1,612 for dropped kerb parking and 1,629 for double parking.

Since enforcement began in Edinburgh last year, there has been an overall decrease in PCN fines being issued for pavement parking with the exception of the busier summer months | Kevin Quinn

In the last year parking attendants have had the powers to issue tickets for the aforementioned offences, resulting a £100 fine that is reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days.

Transport and environment convener, Stephen Jenkinson said: “Since we first introduced these changes one year ago, we’ve seen many residents and visitors modify their parking habits accordingly, with the problem of pavement parking disappearing in many streets across our city.”

In the first 154 days of the new parking enforcement measures, 3,576 tickets were issued to drivers, but Cllr Jenkinson said there has been a ‘gradual decrease’ in PCN fines which demonstrates ‘we’re headed in the right direction’.

The transport convener added: “We brought the pavement parking ban in to provide a safe and accessible environment for everyone, especially those with sight impairments, mobility issues or pushing buggies. We’ve also heard from many people who really appreciate clearer, wider pavements and who no longer need to walk on the road as a result of the ban.”

Transport and local access forum convener, councillor Kayleigh O’Neill said: “Strong awareness, resident co-operation and council enforcement has meant that disabled people, elderly people, those with buggies and prams, all have an easier time getting around.

“So many streets that have been blighted in the past are now free and accessible for people who move around the city like me who uses a power wheelchair. Pavements are for people and the enforcement of this ban reinforces that.”

Mike Moore, policy and campaigns manager at Guide Dogs Scotland, said ‘people with sight loss say it has made a real difference’ with David Hunter, Living Streets Edinburgh group convener, adding ‘this has been the most significant change to make Edinburgh a safer and more attractive city for pedestrians since the introduction of widespread 20mph speed limits’.