With the UK Government considering a ban on parking on pavements, we look at how Scotland’s experience can help English councils prepare
Calls for a ban on pavement parking
Over the last few years, the calls for a ban on pavement parking have increased in volume. Organisations representing people with special needs, cyclists and concerned citizens have been lobbying the government to impose restrictions on nuisance parking on pavements. Media articles and campaigns from organisations such as Living Streets have sought to influence government policy.
Local councils have been concerned to enable kerbside accessibility for all citizens, as well as minimise damage to pavement infrastructure by vehicles mounting kerbs, but have not had the powers to restrict pavement parking.
Options for Change
The Department for Transport’s recent response to the Pavement Parking: Options for Change consultation indicates a significant shift in the way pavement parking may be managed in England. The government has announced its intention to give English local authorities new powers to restrict pavement parking locally and to strengthen enforcement against vehicles that obstruct pavements.
Rather than introducing an immediate nationwide ban, the government is taking a locally led approach. Councils will be empowered to decide where pavement parking should be restricted in their areas, reflecting local street layouts, community needs and accessibility concerns. In the shorter term, secondary legislation will allow civil enforcement officers (CEOs) to issue penalties where pavement parking causes ‘unnecessary obstruction’, enabling councils to act sooner while longer-term primary legislation is progressed through parliament.
Learning from the Scottish Example
London’s boroughs have prohibited parking on pavements for many years, so these restrictions are just part of normal parking operations for London’s local authorities. Scotland only recently introduced a ban on pavement parking, which created a need for Scottish councils to revise and update their local parking regulations and procedures. Taranto has worked closely with some of our Scottish clients including Edinburgh, Midlothian, Highland and Falkirk Councils, to enable the practical enforcement of the pavement parking restrictions. Starting from the initial planning stages, Taranto collaborated with clients to roll out the pavement parking restrictions, which required some changes to be made to the existing Taranto enforcement platform. The system was reconfigured to reflect the new legal framework, supporting CEOs with clear enforcement workflows, accurate contravention handling and robust evidence capture. The roll out included a managed transition period prior to full enforcement, during which warning notices were issued to motorists who infringed the new rules.
By integrating on-street enforcement with back-office processing and case management, Taranto helped Scottish clients deliver consistent, transparent enforcement while minimising manual effort. This joined-up approach enabled clients to introduce the new regulations with minimal disruption to normal parking operations, while at the same time, providing the flexibility to allow the public to adjust to the changes. The ban on pavement parking has now been in operation for over two years and for the full calendar year 2025, our Scottish clients have issued over 11,000 PCNs. Alongside enforcement, councils continue to prioritise education and communication, with the long-term objective of improving driver behaviour and reducing the need for PCNs, as more considerate parking becomes the norm.
Supporting English Councils as Powers Evolve
For English councils now considering how to respond to the government’s plans, our Scottish clients’ experience demonstrates the importance of having flexible, legislation-ready technology in place – and also, to communicate planned changes to the public. Introducing pavement parking restrictions – whether through local prohibitions or enforcement against obstruction – will require systems that can adapt quickly to new contraventions, policy decisions and phased rollouts.
Taranto’s enforcement solution is designed to do exactly that. Its configurable rules, flexible structure, automation and intelligent workflows help councils implement new powers efficiently, control operational costs and reduce administrative burden. Councils benefit from clear audit trails, consistent decision-making and data-driven insight to support both enforcement and operational review.
As the legislative framework develops, there’s no need for English local authorities to start from scratch. By working with Taranto, councils can draw on our practical experience from Scotland, de-risk the introduction of pavement parking controls and put in place an enforcement framework that protects pedestrians, improves accessibility, and delivers efficient, accountable operations from day one.
For more information on how Taranto can help you to reduce nuisance parking and improve accessibility on local streets,