Pavement parking surge prompts police crackdown

Residents around Beaufort Road in St George have received a notice from Bristol City Council and Avon & Somerset Police warning against pavement parking.

The letter urged residents and visitors to stop parking on the south side of Beaufort Road, especially on the thin stretch between Hedwick Street and Beaufort Heights.

The surge in vehicles parked on Beaufort Road and on the corners of adjacent streets follows changes made to the area since the implementation of the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood (EBLN) trial scheme.

Seneca Street resident Sophie Bridgewater, who is on maternity leave and regularly uses a pram said: “I have at one point had to leave notes on three cars who all parked so close to my front walk that I couldn’t get into my house.

“If I can’t get on the pavement right in front of my house then I can’t get home.”

Sophie added that the EBLN trial is otherwise pleasant and made the road safer overall, when she isn’t blocked in her house by pavement parking.

Pavement parking creates obstacles for pedestrians, wheelchair users, carers and parents with prams, forcing many to walk in the road.

Chair of Bristol Disability Equality Commission (BDEC) Alun Davies said: “I, alongside many Disabled people and their organisations have a real issue with cars parking on pavements.

“They are a huge barrier to people being able to travel safely along the pavement as everyone should have the right to do.

“I very much welcome the initiative taken by police writing to the EBLN residents.”

The letter sent out by Avon and Somerset Police also states that double parking on Beaufort Road can block access for larger vehicles, including emergency services and bin lorries.

A Beaufort Road resident who lives with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and wished to remain anonymous said: “Since EBLN and all the double parking, there’s now absolutely no way a fire engine will be able to reach my property should I need one. So, my anxiety is now so much worse.”

Bristol City Council is unable to introduce double-yellow lines until the EBLN trial concludes.

Avon & Somerset Police will begin issuing warning notices, with enforcement action to follow if the issue persists.

Planters block the west end of Beaufort Road as traffic builds up on Blackswarth Road – photo: Carla Wakfer

While some residents welcome quieter, safer streets, others complain of increased congestion on main roads like Blackswarth Road and claim their voices have been ignored during the consultation process.

The scheme features modal filters and bus gates to limit traffic, but has not introduced new parking fees or restrictions within the trial area.

Councillor for St George West, Rob Bryher, who leads the city’s anti-pavement parking taskforce, said: “Before the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood measures were implemented, two-way traffic was so high on Beaufort Road that it would have presented an obstruction if people had pavement-parked at scale on the south side of the road.

“As it has now become a much lower-trafficked and lower-speed area, people felt comfortable to park their vehicles on the south side of Beaufort Road.

“Parking space is intrinsically limited in roads that weren’t built for storing vehicles on the street, so as long as we have a mass car-ownership culture, parking will present an ongoing problem.”

The letter sent out to around 600 addresses in and around Beaufort Road was part-coordinated by Rob Bryher.

Bryher said: “Things have already improved with the pavements and corners having fewer cars parked on them.

“The number one route to better pedestrian safety is fewer vehicles being driven on our streets.

“I’m pleased to see less car traffic, more people realising they don’t need to drive, more people taking up cycling or scooting, and more people taking the bus.

“We have already delivered one success story – the number 16 bus has been introduced that connects Fishponds, Kingswood, St George and Redfield directly to Bristol Temple Meads for the first time in a very long time.”

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Read more: New night buses could be funded by Clean Air Zone charges

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The council is considering further measures, including expanded double yellow lines, new residents’ parking schemes and even a workplace parking levy to fund enforcement and improve public transport.

Councillor Heather Mack, deputy leader of Bristol City Council, said: “We are aware of the increased number of vehicles that are being parked on the pavement around the Beaufort Road area.

“In partnership with Avon and Somerset Police, we have written to local residents explaining the issues this causes for pedestrians – particularly wheelchair users and parents/carers with prams and buggies – along with access for larger vehicles.

“Where vehicles are found to be causing a hazard or obstruction, the police will issue warning notices which set out that enforcement action may be taken.

“When decisions are made on the long-term proposals for the area, which will be after we have asked for feedback and reviewed monitoring data, we will consider any measures needed for Beaufort Road.”

Residents are encouraged to report parking issues on the Avon and Somerset Police website.

Carla Wakfer is reporting on St George as part of Bristol24/7’s Community Reporters programme, aiming to amplify marginalised voices and communities often overlooked by mainstream media. This initiative is funded by our public, Better Business members and a grant from The Nisbets Trust. 

Main photo: Laura Martin

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