London’s transport watchdog has called on the capital’s boroughs to follow Transport for London’s lead and take tougher action to clear pavements of unlawful obstructions.
London TravelWatch said boroughs should ‘make it their new year’s resolution’ to clear pavements of items such as business signs and deliveries, which can make streets become ‘dangerous obstacle courses for pedestrians’ and act as a deterrent for older and disabled people getting out.
Although every London council has a duty under Section 130 of the Highways Act 1980 to keep their pavements clear of obstructions and councils have various powers to enforce against non-compliance, the watchdog said only a handful do this properly.
The group has said it will be naming and shaming the boroughs that won't take their legal duties seriously over the coming months.
Stephen Locke, chair of London TravelWatch, said: 'This is not acceptable in London, a city with such busy pavements and where public policy is to get more of us walking more often. We are really proud of our role in changing Transport for London’s stance on unlawful obstructions and it has been great to see them start to enforce a zero policy regime in this area.'
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