‘Manchester's pavements are for people, not for vehicles’

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Afzal Khan has presented his petition in the House of Commons to stop pavement parking. Mr Khan, MP for Gorton and Shadow Justice Minister, called on the Government to outlaw pavement parking that ‘prevents others from living their daily lives’ across Manchester.

Pavement parking has a daily impact on people, including preventing active travel for those who have mobility impairments, who are blind or partially sighted, people who are neurodiverse, and parents with young children. READ MORE: Join the FREE Manchester Evening News WhatsApp community One local wheelchair user met with the Manchester Evening News to highlight the problem and shared how life has become ‘incredibly difficult’ getting around the region's streets.

Mr Khan said: “For some people, it might be a minor inconvenience. But for many others, it can prevent them from attending a hospital appointment or even leaving their home.” The MP described just some of the many stories shared where people have been affected by pavement parking, including constituent Barbara, who struggled to get to her supermarket because ‘her wheelchair could not fit between cars on the pavement’.

Speaking of other people who face difficulties, Mr Khan said: "Carolyn, meanwhile, takes her mum (who also uses a wheelchair) on walks to Alexandra Park.