Angela says “it’s the end of the road for unsafe pavement parking”
Angela attended a Guide Dogs event at the House of Commons recently to show her support for the campaign to end problem pavement parking.
At the event, the MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge heard from guide dog owners how parked cars blocking the pavement force them to walk in the road, into the path of traffic they cannot see. They heard that some guide dog owners face these dangerous situations on a daily basis, risking their safety every time they go shopping or make the school run.
Research by YouGov for the charity Guide Dogs shows that 54% of UK drivers admit to parking on the pavement, with more than a quarter (29%) of those doing so a few times a month or more. More than half (55%) of these drivers do think about the impact on people with sight loss, but park on the pavement anyway.
Pavement parking particularly affects people with visual impairments, parents with pushchairs, wheelchair users and other disabled people. According to a Guide Dogs survey, 97% of blind and partially sighted people have encountered obstacles on the pavement, and 9 out of 10 have had problems with pavement parked cars.
Guide Dogs is campaigning for to make pavement parking an offence, except in areas where local authorities grant specific exemptions. This is already the case in London, but elsewhere across the country, councils struggle to tackle unsafe pavement parking because they can only restrict it street by street.
Angela Smith MP commented:
“No one should be forced to brave traffic by cars parked on the pavement. I’m calling on the Government to end problem pavement parking across the country. Blind and partially sighted people should be able to walk the streets without fear.”
James White, Senior Campaigns Manager at Guide Dogs, commented:
“Pavement parked cars can turn the walk to work or trip to the shops into a dangerous obstacle course. It’s a nuisance for anyone, but if you have a visual impairment or a toddler in tow, stepping out into the road with moving traffic is just too big a risk.
Our research shows that most drivers who park on the pavement know that it can be dangerous for pedestrians, but many do so regardless. That’s why we need clear rules so that drivers only park where it’s safe.
Back in 2015, we were encouraged when the Government committed to find a solution to this problem. We hope that they will now follow up with a law to curb unsafe pavement parking.”
Ends
Notes to Editors
- The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association provides independence and freedom to thousands of blind and partially sighted people across the UK through the provision of guide dogs, mobility and other rehabilitation services. It campaigns for the rights of those with visual impairments. Guide Dogs is working towards a society in which blind and partially sighted people enjoy the same freedom of movement as everyone else.
- For more information about Guide Dogs and the Streets Ahead campaign, contact Chris Theobald, Public Affairs Manager on 01189 838162 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Search
Your neighbourhood
Latest from Angela
Thursday, 20 December 2018
The ENDS report, the UK’s number 1 source of intelligence... Read More...
Tuesday, 11 December 2018
As I write this article the Prime Minister has just decided... Read More...
Tuesday, 11 December 2018
After hearing rumours that Cohens the Chemist are to close... Read More...
Friday, 07 December 2018
Angela is working with Southern Water to help... Read More...
Thursday, 06 December 2018
Dogs Trust uses virtual reality to help MPs experience the... Read More...
Thursday, 06 December 2018
Local school children collect prizes in local MPs Christmas... Read More...
Wednesday, 28 November 2018
Along with actors Jim Carter and Nichola McAuliffe Angela... Read More...
Wednesday, 21 November 2018
Read More...
Friday, 16 November 2018
Following tonight’s meeting of the General Management... Read More...
Tuesday, 06 November 2018
Fireworks coalition held event in Westminster to raise... Read More...
Friday, 26 October 2018
Angela Smith, Member of Parliament for Penistone and... Read More...
Thursday, 18 October 2018
Well finally the Agriculture Bill has begun its journey... Read More...
Thursday, 18 October 2018
Angela Smith MP has lent her support to a national campaign... Read More...
Friday, 12 October 2018
After the hottest and driest summer for over 40 years... Read More...
Wednesday, 10 October 2018
There has been much discussion about the potential... Read More...
Wednesday, 10 October 2018
Read More...
Tuesday, 09 October 2018
Read More...
Monday, 17 September 2018
Good morning This summer, I spent a couple of very... Read More...
Wednesday, 29 August 2018
As this year’s superb summer gives way to the gold of... Read More...
Thursday, 19 July 2018
In a debate in Parliament on the 17th July 2018, the... Read More...
Thursday, 19 July 2018
Raising the case of Claire Throssell during a debate on... Read More...
Wednesday, 18 July 2018
Today I raised why it was right for the Council of... Read More...
Tuesday, 17 July 2018
Angela joined people with arthritis at an event in... Read More...
Friday, 13 July 2018
Angela Smith, Member of Parliament for Penistone and... Read More...
Thursday, 12 July 2018
Angela Smith MP has pledged her support to the... Read More...
Wednesday, 11 July 2018
Asking the Prime Minister to keep all sections of the... Read More...
Wednesday, 11 July 2018
Angela has welcomed an innovative new recycling scheme for... Read More...
Friday, 06 July 2018
Angela speaks out to preotect children in familes and the... Read More...
Friday, 06 July 2018
Read More...
Friday, 06 July 2018
Finally we are to see the long anticipated Agriculture Bill... Read More...
Wednesday, 27 June 2018
Read More...
Wednesday, 13 June 2018
Along with other local Members of Parliament Angela... Read More...
Monday, 04 June 2018
Angela recently visited Braiform, the world’s largest... Read More...
Thursday, 24 May 2018
Angela's latest article for the Farmers Guardian With... Read More...
Wednesday, 02 May 2018
Angela recently attended an event hosted by The Wildlife... Read More...
Tuesday, 17 April 2018
This conference has a seemingly straightforward theme. The... Read More...
Tuesday, 17 April 2018
Angela has called upon the UK government to become a world... Read More...
Monday, 16 April 2018
The tragedy of the civil war in Syria cannot be fully... Read More...
Tuesday, 03 April 2018
Following her oral question to the Defense Minister in... Read More...
Wednesday, 14 March 2018
Angela hosts animal welfare and veterinary... Read More...
Thursday, 08 March 2018
Local Penistone MP Angela Smith has today (08/03/2018)... Read More...
Wednesday, 07 March 2018
Angela Smith MP, whose Penistone & Stocksbridge... Read More...
Tuesday, 06 March 2018
A Chapeltown-based charity has gained the support of its... Read More...
Wednesday, 28 February 2018
Angela Smith, Member of Parliament for Penistone and... Read More...
Monday, 19 February 2018
01 March 2018 Local Plan Team Barnsley Metropolitan Borough... Read More...
Friday, 09 February 2018
In a debate on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation... Read More...
Friday, 09 February 2018
Over the last 70 years, the NHS has transformed the health... Read More...
Wednesday, 07 February 2018
Local MP, Angela Smith has presented a petition to... Read More...
Friday, 12 January 2018
Angela Smith MP has this week backed the introduction of... Read More...
Friday, 08 December 2017
More than 60 MPs and peers joined Cats Protection... Read More...
Thursday, 07 December 2017
Angela Smith MP highlights plight of smuggled puppies... Read More...
Wednesday, 06 December 2017
Local school children collect prizes in local MPs Christmas... Read More...
Wednesday, 06 December 2017
Angela Smith, MP for both Penistone & Stocksbridge has... Read More...
Wednesday, 01 November 2017
Angela Smith, the MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, has... Read More...
Wednesday, 01 November 2017
A Sheffield mum has met with local MP Angela Smith to ask... Read More...
Wednesday, 18 October 2017
This week the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) celebrated the... Read More...
Tuesday, 26 September 2017
Sheffield is in Yorkshire Water’s top 10 hotspots and the... Read More...
Tuesday, 26 September 2017
123 MPs of different parties, including Angela Smith have... Read More...
Tuesday, 26 September 2017
Angela Smith, the MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, has... Read More...
Monday, 18 September 2017
Angela has recognised the vital role that farmershave... Read More...
Friday, 15 September 2017
The Bill represents not just a step along the way towards... Read More...
Friday, 25 August 2017
Angela, who has campaigned for many years for better... Read More...
Tuesday, 25 July 2017
Angela whose constituency includes the Eastern part of the... Read More...
Monday, 24 July 2017
Agela has joined growing calls for tougher penalties for... Read More...
Monday, 24 July 2017
Angela has today written to Post Office services and the... Read More...
Friday, 21 July 2017
Angela recently joined the Bank of England’s Chief... Read More...
Friday, 14 July 2017
Angela attended a Guide Dogs event at the House of Commons... Read More...
Thursday, 23 March 2017
Angela Smith, Local Labour MP for Penistone and... Read More...
Thursday, 12 January 2017
Angela Smith MP has today written to the Sheffield Clinical... Read More...
Monday, 09 January 2017
“Today’s news that Liberty has come to a formal... Read More...
Thursday, 07 January 2016
Angela Smith this week offered her support World Animal... Read More...
Tuesday, 15 December 2015
Last week the Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare... Read More...
Saturday, 05 December 2015
For a selection of photos of the prize giving... Read More...
Monday, 30 November 2015
Angela recently attended the Westminster launch of Hearing... Read More...
Monday, 30 November 2015
Angela Smith, has joined calls on the UK Government to... Read More...
Wednesday, 25 November 2015
Angela has backed a call for the NHS to put in place... Read More...
Tuesday, 24 November 2015
In August Ofcom launched an online Mobile Coverage Checker... Read More...
Tuesday, 24 November 2015
Angela Smith, MP for Penistone & Stocksbridge today... Read More...
Tuesday, 24 November 2015
Angela recently re-located her constituency to new premises... Read More...
Tuesday, 24 November 2015
Angela recently attended a cross-party event at the House... Read More...
Tuesday, 27 October 2015
Angela Smith MP recently took on the challenge of cleaning... Read More...
Wednesday, 16 September 2015
Angela, has shown her support for women with breast cancer... Read More...
Friday, 19 June 2015
As Shadow Animal Welfare Minister, Angela has shown... Read More...
Friday, 16 January 2015
Congratulations Ofwat, you have (almost) completed what has... Read More...
Thursday, 15 January 2015
Congratulations Ofwat, you have (almost) completed what has... Read More...
Tuesday, 09 December 2014
On Saturday Angela presented awards to the winners of... Read More...
Wednesday, 19 November 2014
Angela Smith MP has joined with members of the retail... Read More...
Friday, 17 October 2014
Recently Breast Cancer Care met with Angela at Parliament,... Read More...
Thursday, 09 October 2014
Angela calls for an end to “game of chance” bus service... Read More...
Thursday, 24 July 2014
Serious concerns have been brought to the attention... Read More...
Monday, 14 July 2014
Angela has called for a greater focus on the links between... Read More...
Monday, 14 July 2014
Penistone & Stocksbridge MP, Angela Smith recently had... Read More...
Monday, 14 July 2014
Angela recently visited the Leeds Dogs Trust rehoming... Read More...
Wednesday, 18 June 2014
Angela visits Fox Valley site in Stocksbridge to see how... Read More...
Wednesday, 11 June 2014
With the launch of the Campaign to raise awareness of... Read More...
Wednesday, 14 May 2014
Angela has today (14th May 2104) objected to the proposed... Read More...
Thursday, 01 May 2014
This Friday May 2nd Angela will be hosting her constituency... Read More...
Thursday, 01 May 2014
In an Adjournment debate in the House of Commons (Wednesday... Read More...
Tuesday, 22 April 2014
After a mini reshuffle in the Shadow Ministerial teams... Read More...