15-05-2025
Hundreds of warning notices issued in Renfrewshire before start of pavement parking ban
A total of 269 advisories were handed out in a bid to raise awareness of the new rules in the local authority.
Hundreds of warning notices were issued in Renfrewshire ahead of the beginning of the enforcement of a ban on pavement parking.
A total of 269 of the blue adhesive envelopes were handed out in a bid to raise awareness of the new rules in the local authority. This took place during a two-week public notification period before the distribution of fines for non-compliance started from April 1.
The law – which also prohibits double parking and parking at a dropped kerb pedestrian crossing – is designed to create safer and more accessible streets. Culprits can land a £100 penalty, however, this is reduced to £50 if paid within a fortnight.
An update to the council's communities and housing policy board on Tuesday said the warning notices were "well-received" by drivers who were "largely happy" to be educated on the matter.
The report explained: "In advance of enforcement activities commencing, officers issued warning notices to vehicles which were parked in contravention of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019.
"The warning notices were applied to vehicles in blue adhesive envelopes to raise awareness of the introduction of the new legislation and were well-received by motorists who were largely happy to engage and be educated.
"Enforcement of the act commenced on April 1 with this being driven by community intelligence, in addition to community support officers dealing with incidents which they come across during their regular patrols."
At the meeting, Councillor James MacLaren, a Conservative representative for Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank, asked how many of the warning notices had been circulated.
He said: "Under pavement parking, it talks about blue adhesive envelopes being stuck on cars as forewarning notices. I haven't seen any myself and I'm just wondering how many of these were actually issued?"
Gerard Hannah, head of climate, public protection and roads, responded: "The warning notices were applied during the first soft launch of the enforcement period with pavement parking, so in total there was 269 of the warning notices issued in that initial two-week period.
"Since then we obviously then moved into the formal enforcement period and that's where we're at just now."
Exemptions can be granted at specific streets where there's not enough space for emergency vehicles to achieve access without vehicles parking on the pavement or where there is at least 1.5 metres for pedestrians when a vehicle is parked on the pavement.
Any area under consideration for dispensation will not be subject to enforcement while it is under review, it is understood.
Once an exemption order is approved by the board, it will come into effect and the locations will have relevant signage and road markings.
