Published: Friday, 2nd May, 2008 12:00
Pavement parking row erupts
By David Knox
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Elaine Collins and her partner highlight the problems faced with illegal pavement parking.
PAVEMENT parkers in Walkerburn and Innerleithen are making life hell for pram pushers and wheelchair users.
And fears are growing that it will take a fatal accident before the reverse lights are put on the trend.
Young mums and the disabled are regularly blocked in their tracks by vehicles left illegally on the walkways.
Despite it being a criminal offence, concern is growing that police are turning a blind eye.
Elaine Collins from Innerleithen relies on her electric scooter for getting about.
But in recent weeks she’s had a couple of close shaves on the main A72 attempting to swerve around pavement-parked motors.
Elaine told the Peeblesshire News: “It is really inconsiderate and also very dangerous.
“Innerleithen High Street can be a problem sometimes as cars are left too much on the pavement and I can’t get through.
“But Walkerburn is much worse – every time I go down there I end up having to try to get round on the road and it is really dangerous.
“It’s not just me, there are plenty other people in a similar position and it’s time something was done.”
Police have moved on pavement-parked cars at Walkerburn’s Innerleithen Road a couple of times.
And a spokeswoman for the Lothian and Borders Force denied that they are ignoring the problem.
She told us: “Whenever we receive complaints about illegally parked vehicles we have taken action.
“There have only been two or three complaints made about parking in Walkerburn over the past year and we have asked the drivers on each occasion to move their vehicles.”
Narrow roads and an increase in traffic have caused parking problems in all Peeblesshire towns and villages.
But some believe pedestrians’ safety should still come first.
Elaine’s partner, Robert Doherty, told us: “We are taking about potential death traps here.
“These cars are illegally parked and very much a danger to mothers with prams and buggies as well as people in wheelchairs and motorized scooters.
“If they can’t get past they have to go out on the main road to get by.
“Does somebody have to suffer a tragedy before the police will react. There’s plenty of car parking spaces away from the main roads in both Walkerburn and Innerleithen – people shouldn’t be so lazy.”
Off-road car parking is available to drivers at Caberston Road, just off the A72, in Walkerburn.
And in Innerleithen safe parking is available on many streets adjacent to the main road, including Hall Street, Chapel Street and Traquair Road.
Ross McGinn, chairman of Innerleithen Community Council, said: “We have been made aware of problems in both Innnerleithen and Walkerburn.
“I have seen drivers parking up on pavements myself ever since the High Street in Innerleithen was narrowed by Scottish Borders Council. It is far from ideal.”
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