The month of September heralds the start of the party conference season and I recently joined thousands of fellow Conservative Party members in Manchester. This conference saw David Cameron and other senior Cabinet members set out their vision for the country.
For those who have never attended a party conference, they provide an opportunity for the many charities, worthwhile causes and other organisations who take the time to exhibit to raise awareness of their campaigns, issues and causes to all who attend.
This year I was particularly pleased to visit the exhibition stand of the Warwickshire based charity, Guide Dogs UK. They organised a fairground-themed hook a duck challenge, which was an entertaining way to raise awareness of pavement parking, an issue that sighted people more often than not take for granted.
Talking to the Guide Dogs UK representative, I learned that pavement parking poses a danger not only to people with sight loss but to other vulnerable pedestrians, like those using wheelchairs and parents with prams or buggies. I was particularly concerned to discover that a survey conducted by Guide Dogs UK showed that 97% of blind or partially sighted people encounter problems with street obstructions, and 90% of those had experienced trouble with a pavement parked car.
Parking on pavements can result in blind and partially sighted people injuring themselves by walking into the car. It may also force people to walk out into the road, risking danger if they are unable to see oncoming traffic or if their return to the kerb is obstructed by a line of cars.
I welcomed the steps taken by the Coalition Government to make it easier for councils to tackle pavement parking. Local authorities are in the best position to decide where and whether pavement parking should or should not be permitted and outside London any local authority that has taken up civil enforcement powers may introduce a ban on pavement parking where it sees fit.
I have received emails and letters about this issue, which is why I wanted to learn more about it and was pleased to be able to do so in an entertaining and memorable way.