Some "selfish" drivers have been accused of showing “blatant disregard” for pedestrians after pictures showed cars parked all the way across a city centre pavement.
Photos sent to the ECHO show at least four cars parked across part of the entire pavement along Covent Garden in Liverpool City centre. The photographs were taken yesterday evening, Friday, May 12, and show further vehicles parked in a row further up the road.
One local resident, who sent the photos to the ECHO, said motorists are “consistently blocking the pavement in our community” which has become a “great inconvenience and posing significant risks to the safety of pedestrians.” They mentioned that it is “disheartening to witness the blatant disregard shown by these motorists who choose to obstruct the pavement with their vehicles,” adding: “it is utterly unacceptable for motorists to encroach upon this designated area.”
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So-called ‘pavement parking’ is a big issue across Liverpool, with frustrated members of the public regularly reporting vehicles being selfishly parked on pedestrian areas. The parked cars often make it difficult for people to get past, more so for those in wheelchairs or parents with prams.
City Centre North Cllr Nick Small, who represents the area, told the ECHO that the city council will be increasing its enforcement to stop drivers using pavements in this way. He labelled the act of pavement parking as “selfish and antisocial.”
He added: “It really makes it difficult for people travelling around the city. Wheelchairs cannot get down and people are also forced to walk in the road.
“It means that people don’t always have the chance to go out as they can’t always get around. People need to take responsibility and realise that there are consequences for their actions.”
Liverpool City Council is currently reviewing parking measures across the city centre. The city council’s cabinet has signed off on a plan for a statutory consultation on the proposals that it said will “standardise” parking across the city centre.
If the change is formally adopted, the city’s controlled parking zone (CPZ) would allow charges to be enforced from 7am to 11pm and increase by 10p per half hour, in a move the council said would raise £1.6m. Currently, 30 minutes parking costs £1.20, this would go up to £1.30. Up to an hour would increase to £2.50 from £2.40.
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