Midhurst pavement parking issue escalates - Police and county council asked to intervene

That was the assessment of West Sussex County Council following ongoing concerns over pavement parking.

For years, town councillor Steve Morley has led a campaign against ‘dangerous and selfish’ parking in North Street and said the council is ‘crying out’ for an official review.

Mr Morley said the issue eased at the height of the first lockdown this year but recurred over the summer and is continuously getting worse.

Midhurst Town Council’s community and environment committee discussed the problem on Monday, where it was suggested that the police could step in to help.

Councillor Morley said: “The parking officers are not here everyday but the problems we suffer are daily so it would be good if the police could just hand out the odd ticket, especially if it’s parking that’s causing an obstruction.

“Ultimately, I would like West Sussex County Council to come and review the current state of parking in North Street.

“We get a lot of double parking, whereby cars are parking in loading and delivery bays. Trucks and vans then pull up behind them. We are still crying out for a review of parking in North Street.”

The county council said it is reviewing its programme and ‘it is not yet possible’ to say if a parking review ‘could take place in the future’ in Midhurst.

A spokesperson said: “At some locations, especially in residential areas with narrow roads and no driveways, the pavement is seen by some as the only place to park without obstructing the carriageway.

“However, this may lead to inherent danger for pedestrians, particularly those with sight or mobility impairments, if they are forced onto the carriageway.”

The government is currently undertaking a consultation on the issue of pavement parking and the county council ‘will be submitting its views’.

The county council said vehicles parked in contravention of existing waiting restrictions in Midhurst, such as yellow lines, can be reported to Chichester District Council and a penalty charge notice may be issued.

However, the district council will not be able to intervene in cases where there are no waiting restrictions, or if the land is private.

“The county council is currently reviewing its overall parking programme and it is not yet possible to say whether a review of parking in Midhurst could take place in the future,” the spokesperson said.

“Meanwhile, requests for new waiting restrictions at specific locations could be considered and further information on how to make a request is available on the county council website.”

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