Drivers risk £100 fine as new parking rules to be introduced this month

08 January 2024 , 11:46

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The new parking rules will be introduced on January 29 (Image: Getty Images)

New parking rules are set to be introduced in Edinburgh at the end of this month which could see drivers face a £100 fine if broken.

From Monday, January 29 drivers in Edinburgh will not be allowed to mount the kerb and park on pedestrian pavements. Parking at dropped kerbs and double parking will also be banned. Edinburgh Council says there a no exceptions to the rules apart from emergency vehicles. Those who breach the rules will receive a £100 fine.

However, if the driver pays the fine within 14 days - beginning with the date the notice was given - motorists will only need to pay £50. Those who fail to pay before the issuing of the Charge Certificate could also face an increase in their penalty by as much as 50%.

The rules are designed to protect pavement users - particularly those using wheelchairs or pushing buggies - by vehicles taking up the pavement. Scotland originally announced its intention to ban pavement parking and dropped kerbs in 2019, but this became delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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After assessing 5,000 roads in the city, Edinburgh council said it had written to residents in a small number of streets to help them prepare for the measures. Once the ban is in place, Edinburgh council said it would continue to monitor whether these streets require mitigation measures such as double-yellow lines.

Councillor Scott Arthur, transport and environment convener, said: "These new rules are about making our streets safer and more accessible for everyone, in particular those with visual impairments or mobility issues. I am proud that Edinburgh is leading the way on enforcing the ban, and that all political parties here agree that no street should be exempt.

"I would expect everyone to adhere to the new prohibitions, but we'll continue to monitor streets across the city to make sure the impacts on the wider network are minimal."

Across the UK, pavement parking is only currently illegal in all 32 boroughs of London, however, police can take action if a driver is causing an obstruction. There are different rules for different parts of the country, and local authorities can restrict pavement parking on individual streets, or by area, by making a traffic regulation order (TRO).

Ruby Flanagan