DRIVERS in Edinburgh could face a fine of £100 from today as a ban on pavement parking comes into force across the city.
The new rules aim to make the streets safer for all road users but in particular those with mobility issues, visual impairments and people with pushchairs.
Edinburgh City Council is the first in Scotland to implement the ban, and said pavement parking was a "persistent issue" on 500 streets.
Motorists who park on pavements, dropped kerbs, or double park could be fined up to £100 from today.
The penalty will be reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days.
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But several residents across the city have been left worried that the ban will lead to problems for emergency services and bin lorries.
Victoria Watson told BBC Scotland News: "The council has left us with no solution as to how emergency service vehicles and bin lorries get down the street when cars are parked on both sides of this narrow street.
"They have not consulted us or come up with signs or double yellow lines on one side of the road.
"They have just slapped this ban on without giving us any suggestions and left us in a bun fight. It is very heavy-handed, ill-thought-out and very irresponsible."
Scott Arthur, City of Edinburgh Council's transport and environment convener, said he had faith in drivers realising that they are blocking a road while parking their car.
He added: "If a driver can't park with all four wheels on the road without blocking traffic, we would encourage them to park elsewhere. Neither parking on the footpath nor blocking the road is safe or acceptable."
Mr Arthur added that officials would be monitoring streets to check if the changes were having a knock-on impact such as traffic displacement or access problems.
Another local resident, Linda Gariock, told the BBC: "[Drivers] have to park on the pavement because otherwise no traffic can go down the narrow streets here but I'm very much against it.
"There should only be parking on one side of the street.
"People with buggies and wheelchairs can't get past and they are having to go on the road where they could get knocked down. It is selfish and absolutely ridiculous."
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And Janis Penman, who uses a mobility scooter, said she felt sorry for drivers and thought more parking spaces should be created.
Local authorities were given new powers to stop vehicles from parking on pavements by the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019, which came into effect in December.
After assessing 5,000 roads in the city, Edinburgh council sent a letter to residents on a number of streets to help them prepare for the measures.
Transport convener Scott Arthur added that they have already seen improvements after sending out letter to the worst affected areas.
Currently, London is the only other city in the UK where parking on pavements is banned.
