Meeting of the Parliament 01 March 2016
It is a great pleasure for me and many others to bring the bill before Parliament. As some members will know, the bill started out as a proposal by former MSP Ross Finnie, back in 2010. At that time, the consultation received 120 responses, of which 83 per cent supported the proposals. Unfortunately, the bill fell due to the parliamentary election in 2011. However, it was then taken up in 2012 by Joe FitzPatrick MSP. Fortunately—or unfortunately, depending on one’s point of view—Joe FitzPatrick had to withdraw the proposal upon becoming a minister in the current Scottish Government. I see that he has just come into the chamber.
It is worth noting that the second consultation received 414 responses, with 95 per cent in favour of the proposed bill. That highlights the fact that the bill is very important. That is one of the biggest responses to a member’s bill that we have had.
After the bill fell in 2012, I took up the baton—the race has been more a marathon than a sprint—and I am proud to have stuck with the proposal to take it forward to this point. I hope that the principles of the bill will be agreed to today.
I thank the many individuals and groups who took part in the consultations and who continue to take a keen interest in what is going on. I also thank the members of the Local Government and Regeneration Committee for their hard work, dedication and support in scrutinising the bill. The committee reached the following conclusion:
“We report to the Parliament that we are content with the general principles of the Bill and recommend the Bill be agreed to at stage 1.”
I must point out that Cameron Buchanan in particular did a sterling job when he appeared in the committee’s YouTube video, calling for people to make their voices heard. I understand that the video has become quite a hit on YouTube. People should look it up.
I also thank the members of the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee for their scrutiny of the bill and for their conclusion that that committee is content with the delegated powers provisions in the bill.
I would also like to pay particular thanks to Living Streets, Guide Dogs Scotland and the coalition of charities that supported the bill and dedicated a lot of time and resources to help in its drafting.
In essence, the bill seeks to restrict the obstruction of footways and dropped kerbs by parked vehicles, and the double parking of vehicles on carriageways and all public roads in built-up areas. A number of exceptions are set out in the bill and, in addition, local authorities would be able to exempt areas from the bill’s provisions. The bill also seeks to prohibit vehicles from waiting while obstructing a footway or dropped kerb or when double parked, except in a limited number of circumstances.
For many users of footways, obstructive parking is a very real issue that can have a hugely detrimental effect on their daily lives. An excerpt from the submission to the committee by Guide Dogs Scotland sums up the issue perfectly. It says:
“In a Guide Dogs ‘Streets Ahead Survey’ ... Pavement parking was the top obstacle cited by all respondents (81.7%) rising to 88% for blind and partially sighted people, who listed it as a problem which they regularly encountered.
Parking on pavements affects all people who use the streets. It is particularly problematic and dangerous not solely for sight impaired, also for older people, people with pushchairs and walking toddlers, wheelchair users, mobility scooters, and other people with mobility and cognitive impairments. Pavement parking forces all these people to walk into the road amongst moving traffic.”