Harrow East MP Bob Blackman’s involvement to stop illegal parking on pavements is commendable contribution against ever increasing obstacles affecting less able people. With increasing car numbers and insatiable shortages of parking spaces, due to ever expanding housing development, with high-rising flats, without creating infrastructure to support extra population in already densely populated London, indeed creates dangerous situations for people with visual impairments and their guide dogs. It is also a serious inconvenience for mothers with pushchairs, old, infirm and disabled people who may be forced to step on to roads, so often with fast flowing traffic that may result in serious road accidents.
But London, in common with most towns, have some very narrow streets where parking on pavements becomes unavoidable, to keep roads free for cars. Fortunately most such streets are well regulated by local Councils but there is vast scope of improvement, as while most cars are parked sensibly, leaving a “Pedestrian Lane” there are some instances where parked cars completely block pavements to the detriment of the pedestrians. Such streets should also prohibit all types of vehicles except normal family cars and that should include commercial vehicles like vans, mini passenger carriers. Perhaps parking permits could play a vital part in keeping such narrow streets safe. It is time fickle planning authorities act sensibly to keep our once perception of meticulous London safe, traffic free flowing before London becomes ghetto city like Cairo or Calcutta.
Kumudini Valambia
By email
