FRESH calls for council chiefs to get tough on pavement parking are set to be considered on Thursday.

Independent Cllr Suzie Akers Smith, Cheshire East Council’s cycling and walking champion, wants the local authority to develop new policies on pavement parking and obstruction.

Her suggestion – which has been supported by Labour Cllr Suzanne Brookfield – comes a week after firefighters were forced to complete their journey to a house fire in Wilmslow on foot after being blocked by parked vehicles.

In a motion which will be considered at CEC’s full council meeting in Sandbach, Cllr Akers Smith said: “This one single borough-wide act will enhance the lives of more than 380,000 people – especially vulnerable road users including wheelchair users, mobility scooter users, visually impaired, carers, children and families.

Northwich Guardian:

“If CEC is serious about reducing carbon emissions and having a positive impact on climate change, passing this motion would make a significant contribution.

“Not everybody has a car, but everybody has to get around, and protecting those who want to actively travel needs to be a priority.”

The motion – which will either be debated by councillors today or passed onto a relevant CEC committee – calls for cabinet to consider separate borough-wide policies on pavement parking and obstruction.

It follows a recommendation made by the Department for Transport last month that a ban on pavement parking should be enacted in England.

Independent Cllr David Jefferay, CEC member for Wilmslow East, believes such a move would be welcomed in his ward – although it might not work in other places.

Northwich Guardian:

He said: “There is an issue with parking across the board in Wilmslow but in this particular instance, it is not just parking on yellow lines, it is obstructing the footpaths as well.

“In particular there is a disabled guy with an electric wheelchair who has been trying to get action because he is having to leave the footpath and go on the road to get around parked cars.

“In places like Wilmslow it would be quite easy to manage this but there are other towns and villages where if you don’t allow parking on the pavement there would be an issue of obstructing traffic on the road.

“I don’t think a one-size-fits-all approach would work for the whole borough, but it would certainly be welcomed in Wilmslow.”

Firefighters were forced to run 70 metres with equipment to a house fire in Clough Avenue last Wednesday, where parked vehicles were obstructing their entry.

READ > Burglary gang who left note saying 'thanks for the free stuff' jailed

In a tweet, Wilmslow Fire Station said: “Think before you park – Charlie Watch were unable to reach the scene of a house fire this morning due to badly parked vehicles.”

“Firefighters had to dismount and run 70 metres with hoses to the property. Luckily the fire was contained to a cooking pan.”