A BLIND woman who struggles manoeuvring around parked cars says she would welcome a move by council chiefs to ban parking on York footpaths.

As reported by The Press last week, Cllr Peter Dew, of Rawcliffe and Clifton Without, highlighted that obstructing the pavement causes problems for pedestrians in York.

Speaking at a City of York Council meeting Cllr Dew, the Executive member for transport and planning, said he would support a move to make parking on the pavement illegal in York. Currently, leaving a car half on half off a pavement is only illegal in London.

Melissa Crowland, from Acomb said a ban would help her and other people with disabilities who find it difficult walking around parked cars.

She said: “I use a white cane for short walks around Acomb but it's quite congested and cars park on the pavements a lot.

“A lot of the time my white guide cane will go under the car so I don’t know its there.

“I end up walking into the car, and either damaging the car or hurting myself.

“People have hurled abuse at me before for walking into their parked cars. I have been told that I shouldn’t be allowed out the house because I'm a liability.”

Tanya Braun, head of policy and communications at Living Streets, said: “We’re regularly contacted by disabled and older people who are effectively trapped in their homes because there isn’t enough room on the pavement for wheelchairs or mobility aids. We want the law to be clear: pavement parking should not be permitted.”

Karen Feetham, of the Tang Hall and Heworth Road Safety Campaign, welcomed the proposal. She said: “Many of our residents complain that parking on pavements in the area causes residents to step on the road to get passed.

"As a spokesperson for the area we endorse this idea by Cllr Peter Dew as it will increase the pavement space for wheelchair users, people with pushchairs and the visually impaired, especially when coupled with overhanging or untrimmed foliage." However, Ms Feetham said more needs to be done to provide safe parking through car parks and lay-bys.