Councillors will discuss the best way of addressing, and preventing, inconsiderate and sometimes dangerous pavement parking next week.

Earlier this year Swindon Borough Council’s Building a Better Swindon policy formulation committee suggested to the ruling labour cabinet that it adopt a policy that would allow rules to be drawn up to make parking on the pavement illegal in areas of the borough where it was a particular danger or inconvenience.

It is generally not illegal to park on the pavement where other rules, such as double yellow lines do not prevent it, although it is illegal to drive onto the pavement.

That proposal was accepted and approved by cabinet.

Now the policy committee will consider how best to  bring in areas of enforcement on such parking.

The report to the committee says rather than bring in a blanket ban: “Proposals will be invited from ward councillors who represent each area. They may demonstrate local support through surveys, petitions, questionnaires or on-line or social media dialogue and through the views of town or parish councils.”

But such proposals must address a genuine need and have support: “ The success of traffic and parking restrictions schemes relies on local support and compliance so there should be evidence that there is clearly a problem to be addressed and that there is local support for the scheme.

“Officers will then carry out consultation with the local community through the normal Experimental Traffic Regulation Order process.

“This includes a formal right of objection. Any objections received will need to be considered by the council before the Experimental Order is made permanent.”

It adds: “Proposed areas may be individual streets or groups of streets. While each application will be considered on its own merits it is likely that preference will be given to areas where there are higher numbers of pedestrians – particularly more vulnerable users – such as near schools and health facilities.

"Some thought will need to be given to where displaced vehicles will be parked instead – to consider the impacts of simply moving problems to other adjacent areas.”

Where there are grass verges between the main road and the footway, the report says the verges should be included on a restriction for it to be effective.

If an experimental traffic order to ban pavement parking is approved it will be introduced for a period of 18 months before being reviewed.

The meeting starts at 6pm on Thursday July 11 at the Civic Offices in Euclid Street. Members of the public may attend.