MP’s new bill aims to curb irresponsible parking

Mr Lazarowicz said the his bill would clarify the powers devolved to the Scottish Parliament to tackle parking abuses. Picture: TSPL

The move comes three months after Scotland on Sunday revealed that a planned Holyrood law against irresponsible parking had stalled because Parliamentary officials said they doubted MSPs had the power to introduce it.

Mr Lazarowicz said the his bill would clarify the powers devolved to the Scottish Parliament to tackle parking abuses such as on pavements, at dropped kerbs, which are used by wheelchairs, and double parking.

He said: “This bill would ensure the Scottish Parliament has the power to act to tackle irresponsible parking, which can be not just a nuisance but a real danger in the case of the elderly, children and people who may be visually impaired or disabled.

“There has been uncertainty over whether the Scottish Parliament has the power to legislate in this area, and this bill would cut through that by ensuring that it is devolved once and for all.”

Glasgow Kelvin SNP MSP Sandra White, who is spearheading the Holyrood bill, said the Scottish Parliament’s non-governmental bills unit had told her it was likely to be “outwith the competence” of Holyrood.

However, she has vowed to press ahead and hopes to introduce the bill later this year.

She has rejected officials’ advice to change the bill as it would mean councils also having to agree to the ban.

• Pavement parkers face crackdown