A PAVEMENT parking ban across England could be introduced to help pedestrians, the Department for Transport has announced.

The Government will decide whether to give local authorities more power to tackle the problem.

Parking on pavements is banned in London but elsewhere in the UK it is a grey area.

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Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "Vehicles parked on the pavement can cause very real difficulties for many pedestrians.

"That's why I am taking action to make pavements safer and I will be launching a consultation to find a long-term solution for this complex issue. This will look at a variety of options - including giving local authorities extended powers to crack down on this behaviour."

Parking on pavements is a source of contention in Redditch and Alcester.

Police in Alcester have been urging people to take part in Operation Snap, where members of the public can submit (via a secure online form) digital footage showing potential traffic offences.

The parking ban announcement is in response to a report by the Commons' Transport Select Committee in September last year which called for a blanket nationwide ban on the "blight" of parking on pavements.

Witnesses told MPs that the worst cases of pavement parking were effectively trapping disabled, elderly and vulnerable people, making them "afraid to leave their homes".

Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, said: "We absolutely agree that people who park in an anti-social way should be penalised. Many drivers in narrow streets are tempted to partially park on the pavement so emergency services and refuse trucks can pass.

"An outright ban could lead to unintended consequences with parking chaos becoming more widespread. A better solution would be for councils to make a street-by-street assessment and where pavement parking could be allowed it be clearly marked and signed."

Is the ban a good idea? Or will it cause more problems?

Let us know what you think by emailing ben.russell@newsquest.co.uk or commenting below.