Pavement parking ban set to begin in Fife on September 1

Fife Council want to start enforcing the pavement parking ban from September 1. <i>(Image: Newsquest)</i>
Fife Council want to start enforcing the pavement parking ban from September 1. (Image: Newsquest)
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FIFE Council aim to start enforcing the pavement parking ban from September 1.

The law was passed in Scotland in December 2023 but local authorities were given leeway as to when it would be implemented in their area.

The Footway Parking Bill is not currently being enforced in Fife.

It prohibits parking on pavements, blocking dropped kerbs and double parking - offenders face a £100 fine - but the council wanted to identify all of the areas where the ban would NOT apply before adopting the regulations.

More than 12,500 roads in the Kingdom have now been assessed and a report to Thursday's cabinet committee states: "Effective enforcement of the pavement parking legislation is anticipated to commence from September 1, 2025."

It says that "approximately 40 roads have been identified as meeting the criteria for consideration of an exemption order" and this information will be passed to area committees.

Fife Council said the Footway Parking Bill will improve safety and accessibility for all. Fife Council said the Footway Parking Bill will improve safety and accessibility for all. (Image: Newsquest) READ MORE: Campbell Scott death: Two murder suspects appear in court

SNP councillor for Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay, David Barratt, commented: "I'm surprised the number of roads considered for exemption is so low, and will look closely at this when we get details of local proposals."

While Edinburgh began enforcing the law in January 2024 with no exemptions, there was concern that to do the same in Fife could lead to routes being effectively narrowed to the point that buses and emergency vehicles wouldn't get through.

Before the ban can be implemented, councillors on all seven area committees in Fife will have to agree a list of streets and roads in their area where the ban will not apply and a statutory consultation will have to be completed.

Exemptions could apply where "a carriageway width is less than five metres" or where a pavement is greater than three metres wide and "would allow a vehicle to park half on the footway and maintain at least a 1.5 metres wide unobstructed footway".

Officers conceded that this could displace parking to neighbouring streets and if this proved to be a "significant" issue, they would consider further exemptions or other measures such as double yellow lines.

Every single pavement in the Kingdom where parking WILL be permitted will have to be marked and lined to "ensure clarity for the public".

The council tasked external consultants with identifying all of the areas "where it really wouldn't be helpful to have vehicles moved from the pavement onto the road to park".

Fife Council was awarded £188,107 from the Scottish Government to help pay for this.

They've spent £101,820 so far with the remaining £86,287 to fund the signing and lining works, which could cost as much as £130,000.

As part of the preparation for introducing the ban, a public awareness campaign will be undertaken and advisory warning notices issued to drivers who breach the law.

After around two months the ban will be fully enforced.

Offenders face a £100 fine, £50 if paid within 14 days or £150 if it's not paid within 28 days.

The council said the law will "help improve safety and accessibility for all, particularly for our most vulnerable road users including disabled individuals, the young and elderly people".

The report added: "The Fife road network has been assessed, and it is now timely to consider the timescale to implement the parking ban, subject to completion of staff training, IT system updates and awareness raising campaigns and a ‘soft’ approach commencing enforcement."

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