A Fife pensioner’s bid to ban parking in front of dropped kerbs has received a boost after MSPs backed including it in new legislation.
John Shaw, who submitted a petition to the Scottish Parliament, wants the practice to be a specific offence, as it is in England.
The move would allow wheelchair users to travel more freely and could enhance protection for victims of driveway blocking.
Holyrood’s rural economy and connectivity committee will discuss whether the ban should be included in the Transport Bill on Wednesday.
Mr Shaw, a wheelchair user who is in his 80s, said he has “great difficulty negotiating road crossings due to parked cars blocking them”.
Police and councils have powers to tackle parking problems on and around dropped kerbs, such as imposing yellow and red lines, and where a vehicle is deemed to be an obstruction.
Pedestrian campaigners Living Streets said councils are reluctant to impose the restrictions, while parliament officials report police rarely force cars parked on a dropped kerb to be moved.
Earlier this month the public petitions committee supported including Mr Shaw’s ban plan in the Transport Bill.
The Scottish Government has said its Transport Bill will “include provisions to tackle inconsiderate and irresponsible parking”.
