Kane calls for UK-wide action on pavement parking

Chris Kane, MP for Stirling and Strathallan, showed his support for Guide Dog’s UK campaign for safer and more accessible streets at an event in Parliament.

Chris spoke with people with sight loss about the challenges anti-social pavement parking causes. Cars parked on pavements are a problem for everyone, but are particularly dangerous for people with sight loss, who can be forced to walk in the road with traffic they cannot see.

While Stirling introduced enforcement for pavement parking in July 2024 the law in the rest of the country is complex and patchy. Guide Dogs is calling for a clear law across the rest of the UK, to ensure that everyone can walk their streets safely.

Eleanor Briggs, Head of Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns at Guide Dogs, said:
“Cars blocking pavements are a nuisance for everyone but can be dangerous for people forced into the road, especially wheelchair users, people with pushchairs and people with sight loss.

We know cars blocking the way undermines people with vision impairments’ confidence to get out and about independently.”

Chris Kane added: “I’m delighted to back Guide Dog’s UK in their call for safer and more accessible streets across the UK. Ensuring clear pathways is not just a matter of convenience, it’s a matter of safety and equality.

“I was very pleased to work within Stirling Council to ensure that Stirling was one of the first Scottish local authorities to enforce pavement parking, while regulations will also be enforced in Perth and Kinross from January 2025. I know that ensuring such enforcement is in place across the UK will greatly assist more guide dog users and others with sight loss and mobility issues.”