Photo: Peter Fazekas

Is it illegal to park on a grass verge?

londoncouncils.gov.uk - Footway parking - London Councils

What is a one floor house called?

A bungalow is a one-story house, cottage, or cabin.

Last updated Oct 22, 2019

Is it OK for OSB to get wet?

Your framing lumber and the oriented strand board (OSB) are going to be fine. The glues used to make OSB are water-resistant because the...

Last updated May 9, 2020

Can I build my own shed?

Yes, with the right plans you can build your dream shed.

Learn More »

Promotion

Footway Parking

Introduction

Parking on footways or footpaths (pavements, grass verges, alleyways, etc), or in front of dropped footways or raised carriageways (for example driveways or pedestrian crossings) is banned on almost all streets in London at all times, including at night and weekends. If you park in such a way then you could receive a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) and may also be towed away – even if only one or two wheels are on the footway. This leaflet gives details of how and why the bans operate, and the exceptions to them.

Reasons for the bans

to prevent obstruction to pedestrians. Cars and other vehicles parked on footways or at pedestrian crossings can make life difficult and dangerous for pedestrians, in particular for wheelchair users, people with baby buggies and the visually impaired. Vehicles parked in front of driveways block access to and from the premises to prevent damage to the footway. Unlike road surfaces, footways are not designed to take the weight of cars or other motor vehicles. Much of the damage to London’s footways (cracked or sunken paving slabs etc) is caused by vehicles parking illegally on the footway. Repairs cost London’s councils millions of pounds each year, and tripping on damaged footways is the cause of many pedestrian injuries to maintain footways as an amenity. The presence of cars and other vehicles parked on footways, verges and other pedestrian areas is detrimental to the urban environment.

Grass verges and other areas

Any part of the public highway not set aside for vehicles is covered by the footway parking ban. This includes grass verges, central reservations, ramps linking private property to the road and pedestrian crossings. Cars and other vehicles should only be parked on the road away from places where access is needed.

Exemptions to the bans

There are two main exceptions to the bans:

vehicles parked in places which the local council has exempted from the bans. If you are parking in a street exempted from the ban then there will be bays painted in white indicating where you can park. Never assume that a street has been exempted from the bans – even if there are other cars parked that way – unless there are signs indicating that footway parking is permitted. Where parking on the footway is permitted this is indicated by signs with the parking “P” and showing a car parked on the footway (see examples above: one wheel on the raised area indicates that two wheels may be on the footway and the whole vehicle on the footway indicates all four wheels). Signs similar to the examples shown above with a red diagonal line through them will indicate the termination of any footway parking ban exemption for loading or unloading when there is no other way the delivery or collection could be made. This exemption only applies in very limited circumstances and only where there is no loading ban in place. For further details on loading rules see London Councils’ leaflet on “Loading and Unloading”.

There is no exemption to the ban for holders of disabled badges.

How do you anchor a metal shed to the ground?

How to Properly Anchor a Shed: The Only Guide You Need Drill or dig the holes, tamp some gravel into the bottom. Slide a sonotube in to form it up....

Last updated Jul 23, 2018

What size garage can I build without planning?

However the regulations are based around reasonable size. You can build a garage without planning permission as long as the garage doesn't take up...

Last updated Jan 6, 2019

These are the Best Shed Plans!

Comprehensive and Intuitive to follow. Build That Shed!

Learn More »

Promotion

Can you insulate a pole barn?

Insulating the pole barn with spray foam can help reduce monthly energy bills to heat and cool the structure. Spray foam insulation isn't a food...

Last updated Mar 11, 2022

Which direction should a bathtub face?

Most experts agree that facing into the room makes for a more pleasant way to relax as you soak. This way, you see if anyone comes into the room or...

Last updated Nov 4, 2018