DEVON County Council is calling on Government to revisit proposals that would give the authority more powers to deal with motorists parking on pavements.

On December 4 last year, the House of Commons withdrew a motion for a bill to end Pavement Parking.

Powers to deal with obstruction of pavements currently rest with the police and not highways authorities like Devon County Council.

In the last 12 months, there has been 788 complaints made about pavement parking in Devon.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council’s cabinet member for Highways has written to Transport Secretary Chris Grayling MP expressing his concern that since the motion was withdrawn last year, councils had not received any further support from Government regarding the issue.

Previous research has shown that during one three month period 70 per cent of those who are blind had collided with a car parked on a pavement, and 32 per cent had felt less confident about going out.

In his letter councillor Hughes said: “The county council recognises the impact that pavement parking has on pedestrians, particularly those that are most vulnerable; the elderly, parents with buggies, the visually impaired and wheelchair users.

“Pavement parking can also damage the structure of footways increasing maintenance costs.”

He said that the council was ‘disappointed’ that the Pavement Parking Bill was withdrawn after its second reading and it was felt that evidence presented in favour of the bill was ‘compelling’.

Councillor Hughes added: “None the less Devon County Council will continue to gather evidence of the problems on its network.

“If there is anything further that officers or myself can do to assist in the progression of pavement parking powers we would be grateful if you could advise.”